1. Unit 7 Observation, assessment and planning
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2. LO 6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children.
AC 6.1 Describe the professional skills required when observing children.
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3. LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 10 mins Identify your own personal skills and qualities. For example: Skill Quality I can cook I am patient I can swim I am a good listener These lists will be used in the Pairs activity.
Teacher notes:
Skill: something that has been learnt or developed.
Quality: a natural ability or something you are.
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4. Professional skills when observing
LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Professional skills when observing
There are a variety of professional skills needed when observing children.
If practitioners did not use these professional skills then their observations might be affected.
Lack of professionalism when observing could have an impact on the child and the setting.
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5. LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 15 mins
Compare your lists from the Starter activity and discuss similarities and differences.
Choose three of your skills or qualities and further explain them to your partner.
Can you add another skill or quality to your partner's list that you think they have missed out?
Teacher notes:
Learners should discuss their own skills and qualities.
Each learner should tell their partner one more skill or quality they feel they have.
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6. Skills needed to prepare for the observation
LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 15 mins
Using the lists from the Starter and Pairs activities, compile a list of skills that you feel will be needed when observing children.
Consider:
Skills needed to prepare for the observation
Skills needed to carry out the observation
Skills needed to reflect and evaluate the observation.
Teacher notes:
Learners will now compile a list of skills from their combined lists.
This will be further used in the Classroom discussion activity.
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7. Professional skills when observing
LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Professional skills when observing
All practitioners will have a range of skills and qualities that will support their work with children.
Observations will require practitioners to use their professional skills so that every observation is factual, accurate and effective in recording what the child is saying and doing.
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8. Professional skills when observing
LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Professional skills when observing
Professional skills when observing will include:
Objectivity – only writing what you see and hear not what you think is happening.
Confidentiality – following policies and procedures of the setting to ensure the confidentiality of the child and setting.
Accuracy – being able to accurately write what you see and hear.
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9. LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 15 mins
Using your notes from the previous activities, explain how your own skills and qualities support you in the professional skills identified below:
Objectivity
Confidentiality
Accuracy.
Teacher notes:
Example:
Objective – non-judgemental, open, good listener
Confidentiality – trustworthy, honest
Accuracy – observant, good handwriting, quick.
If learners cannot directly match their own skills and qualities, they can discuss a range that would support these professional skills.
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10. Professional skills when observing
LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Professional skills when observing
There are many other skills a practitioner will need when observing and these will include:
Being able to focus on the child or children who are being observed.
Being able to maintain the health and safety of the other children around them.
Speed writing or code making to enable accurate note taking.
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11. Professional skills when observing
LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Professional skills when observing
What does this say?
2 chd r at spit
A wnts spd B grbs it
B shts
A crs
B loks shkd & gvs it bk
Bth chd cont plag 4 anth 5 mins
Teacher notes:
2 children are at the sandpit
A wants the spade B grabs it
B shouts
A cries
B looks shocked and gives it back
Both children continue playing for another 5 minutes
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12. LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 15 mins
Discuss the range of professional skills identified during this session and explain how they will support practitioners when observing children.
Can you think of any additional professional skills that will support a practitioner to observe children?
Teacher notes:
Learners should clearly link their previous discussions to observing children.
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13. LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 15 mins Reflect on your own observational skills and consider your strengths, as well as areas for development. For example: Strengths Objectivity – I can write just what I see and hear. Areas for development Speed – I worry too much about neat handwriting and need to speed up.
Teacher notes:
Learners can share their reflections with a partner.
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14. LO6 Understand the skills required by the early years practitioner when observing children [AC 6.1]
Time: 15 mins
Watch a short observation video clip and use shorthand or code to write what you see and hear.
Write the observation up in full sentences and see how much you can interpret.
Why is it important to write up observations, in full, as soon as possible?
Teacher notes:
There are a range of clips on the DL resource. You may want to give everyone the same clip to watch, and further extend this by seeing if learners can understand the shorthand or code of another learner.
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15. Identified personal skills and qualities.
In this lesson we have:
Identified personal skills and qualities.
Discussed a range of professional skills required to observe.
Described how these professional skills support practitioners to observe.
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16. What is the difference between a skill and a quality?
Name three professional skills required to carry out observations.
Give two reasons for writing up an observation as soon as possible after carrying it out.
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