What Does Foundational, Immediate Foundational & Age-Expected Mean?

Foundational Skills

Foundational Skills Skills and behaviors that develop early and promote the development of later developing skills What are some foundational skills for communication?

What’s the difference between these two questions? Questions to Consider Would we say that just about most or all of Bella’s functioning in this area is showing foundational skills?  Some foundational skills for learning how to communicate are…Is Bella’s functioning in this area that of foundational skills? What’s the difference between these two questions?

Immediate Foundational Skills

Immediate Foundational Skills Skills and behaviors that develop just prior to age-expected What are some of the skills/behaviors young children develop just before learning to walk?

What’s the difference between these three questions? Questions to Consider Is Jenna’s functioning in this area showing the kind of skills that develop just before what children do at this age?  Just before children learn to walk (age-expected skill), they pull to stand and cruise (immediate foundational skill). Is Jenna doing anything related to this outcome? Would we say that just about most or all of Jenna’s functioning in this area is showing the kind of skills that develop just before what children do at this age?  What’s the difference between these three questions?

Age-Expected Skills

Age-Expected Functioning meets age-expectations What are age-expected skills/behaviors for most two-year old children related to taking appropriate actions to have their needs met?

What’s the difference between these two questions? Questions to Consider Some of the skills and behaviors we see children in this area do at this age are…. Is Johann doing any of these related to this outcome? Would we say that all or almost all of Johann’s functioning for this outcome is what we would expect to see for a child this age?  What’s the difference between these two questions?

How Foundational Skills Lead to Age-Expected Functioning Immediate Foundational Skills Age-Expected Skills The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)

Let’s Practice Bella is a two-year old child. She is using some gestures to indicate her needs and wants (such as pointing) as well as 5 single signs. How would you classify her skills (foundational, immediate foundational or age-expected)? Why? What outcomes are impacted by communication? What would immediate foundational skills look like? What skills are considered age-expected for a 24-month old child?

What domains are important to consider for this outcome? Let’s Practice Isaiah is 15-months old. He enjoys playing peek-a-boo, imitates simple sounds and gestures, and has preferences for people and toys. How would you classify his skills (foundational, immediate foundational or age-expected) when considering the outcome: building positive social-emotional skills & relationships? Why? What domains are important to consider for this outcome? What skills are considered immediate foundational for a 15-month old child for this outcome?

Let’s Practice Johann is 4 months old. When he is hungry or tired, he will cry. What skills are considered age-expected when considering the outcome: taking actions to meet own needs? What would immediate foundational skills look like when considering the outcome: taking actions to meet own needs? What would foundational skills look like when considering the outcome: taking actions to meet own needs?

Let’s Practice – Your Turn In small groups, identify a child/family with whom you’re currently partnering. Describe the child’s skills within the context of one outcome area. As a small group, decide how you would classify the child’s skills and why? Then identified what skills would come just before and after the identified skills.

Reflection How is this terminology helpful to the COS process? How might you explain this vocabulary to caregivers?

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