Caring for Children: Roles, Regulations and Practices

Keywords: multi professional team, child care regulations, child care regulation affect

Describing the role of the practitioner in caring for children

The role and responsibilities of an early years practitioner follow a number of codes of practice which clearly state how practitioners and other staff
must conduct themselves. Chief amongst the codes presently in operation are those that govern special needs, safeguarding children, children’s learning,
behaviour, working with parents, and data protection (Nutbrown and Clough, 2014). As Spodek and Saracho (2014) note, the early years practitioner has a
clear set of designated responsibilities including: working to the principles of the sector and its codes of confidentiality; meeting the learning needs of
each individual child by ensuring that issues of differentiation are met; providing and sustaining an environment that is warm, welcoming and stimulating;
working with parents and partners; and working as part of a team that provides a quality service for both children and parents. In addition, the
practitioner may also, especially in cases of suspected abuse, have to work with an array of outside agencies and conform to issues of child safety
(Daniel, Gilligan and Wassell, 2011).

In fulfilling their statutory duties, it follows that the practitioner must put the needs of children first because, as Bradshaw (2011) comments, this
helps to keep children out of harm, and by keeping them safe, a productive environment can be created in which they can maximise their potential. It is
imperative that practitioners respect others’ choices because failure to do so can cause friction between staff members and can negatively reflect on
the setting and upset the children (Sylva et al., 2010). Further, there is a pressing need, as Willow (2014) suggests, to ensure that one always respects
issues pertaining to confidentiality. This is because it can help a child stay out of trouble, keep them safe, and help them to develop into responsible
adults.

Seemingly of secondary importance, because it is removed from direct interaction with the child, but actually of just as much importance, is planning,
recording and reviewing the child’s progress (Bradbury, 2014). This is important for two major reasons. First, the formal keeping of records allows
the progress of children to be monitored and evaluated against national criteria (Bradbury, 2014). Secondly, it can help practitioners to be reflective
upon their own strengths and weaknesses (Paige-Smith and Craft, 2011). This is not, however, merely an issue of internalisation, for such a process also
helps when one is undertaking activities because one can evaluate how well the event went well, and from that, make improvements to ensure that in future
events are even better planned. Indeed, such reflection is, as Paige- Smith and Craft (2011) contend, an essential function of effective practice.

It is also important, as Sims-Schouten and Stittrich-Lyons (2014) recommend, to demonstrate responsibility in the way that one conducts oneself at work, as
it helps the children to learn right from wrong. This is an important consideration because it is partly the responsibility of the professional (in
co-operation with the parents) to teach the children and in this way one acts as a role model. The creation of a meaningful partnership with parents is
also of pivotal importance as the latter can learn from the former as to what the child likes and dislikes – it also allows the parents to take a
proactive interest and role in the raising of their children and may help them to ensure that the child’s development is in line with national
curricular expectations (Read, 2014).

Continuing professional development (CPD) is, as Sims-Schouten and Stittrich-Lyons (2014) explain, critical as it enables the practitioner to enhance their
existent skill set and further learn from best practice. It also shows others that the practitioner is interested in helping the children to be the best
they can be and that they are dedicated to their role – which may also be useful when seeking promotion or a change of professional employer.
Observing children as a form of CPD also helps one to recognise the distinctive stages of a child’s development and this can help with the
prioritising of a child’s needs, particularly with regard to where they may need additional support (Carroll and McCullough, 2014). Lastly, within this
section it can be commented that working as part of a wider team helps to create a positive environment for everyone to work within; by making people feel
valued, this may increase self-confidence and productivity (Pugh and Duffy, 2013).

Comparing the differing roles of statutory, private, voluntary and independent settings

Many parents successfully adapt to changes in their lives and in so doing have the benefit of support from their family and friends to provide assistance
if it is required. A significant number of families, however, face issues that affect family life in such a manner that they require professional
assistance, or may be hampered by a lack of ‘family and friend’ support or a lack of internal ability to deal with change. Such factors, as
Daniel, Gilligan and Wassell (2011) observe, include: financial difficulties, unemployment, divorce and separation, caring for others, bereavement, and
social isolation.

If one looks at each of these in turn it is possible to comment further on the individual problems that each factor may entail. Thus, with regard to
financial difficulties it can be noted that problems faced are likely to be exacerbated where there is a low income family that cannot afford food or
clothes or proper rent (Burchinal et al., 2010). Indeed, the rise in food banks within the UK gives a graphic illustration of this problem, as Sylva et al.
(2010) note. Poor housing may also lead to feels of depression and declining health as a result of factors such as damp. With reference to unemployment,
the loss of a job, and the resultant lack of income can, in addition to depression, lead to stress within relationships and may also result in other family
members, such as young mothers, having to go out to work (Shonkoff and Bales, 2011). Unemployment may also lead to a loss of child care as parents cannot
afford support whilst a mother is forced to work, possibly culminating in a separation of child from mother at a crucial stage of infant development (Read,
2014). Divorce and separation can also cause several problems which need addressing and assistance from trained professionals. The three major problems are
loss of income, smaller housing and cramped conditions, and a sense of guilt on the part of the child for a parent leaving (Bradshaw, 2011). Such issues
can create tension and stress that can impact upon development and behavioural issues. In a similar manner, caring for other family members or caring for
someone with a long-term illness (such as elderly relatives) can result in additional costs and a perceived ‘rationing’ of care towards
children which can cause emotional disturbance (Pugh and Duffy, 2014). Bereavement brings with it, as Read (2014) explains, emotional strain, and issues
pertaining to dealing with grief – which may also affect the internal dynamics of a family’s daily life and routines. Finally, social
isolation, with its associated lack of communication, may cause health concerns to worsen which need additional support. In such scenarios, it becomes
clear, from the comments made above, that children and families may need additional support at certain times in their lives (Burks and Kobus, 2012).

There are many organisations and self-help groups that can provide this support. These include, the National Childbirth Trust, the National Association of
Toy and Leisure Libraries, the Child Poverty Action group, Home Start, Parentline Plus, Gingerbread, various elements of local authorities’ services,
and the National Health Service. In addition, as Shonkoff (2010) has commented, there are many different settings where children can be cared for,
including, but not limited to, respite care, holiday play schemes, parent and toddler groups, schools, workplace nurseries, child-minders, pre-schools,
after school clubs, residential care, day nurseries and crèches. The suitability of the option chosen is likely to be influenced both by the specific
issue that the family faces and their financial circumstances.

There are three different sectors that provide care and education for children. They are: the statutory (or state) sector, voluntary sector, and private
sector. The statutory sector is a sector that has to be there by law, such as local state-funded schools and hospitals. The age range that primary schools
cover is from five years to eleven years old and they follow a set curriculum (Nutbrown and Clough, 2014). The aim of a state sector school or similar
facility is to provide opportunities for the education of every child and to support their learning (Pugh and Duffy, 2014). In so doing, they provide a
safe and secure environment for children, which keeps them free from harm. Such schools also provide social opportunities for a child, which include
learning to make friends, learning to socialise with people, learning the difference between adults and children, and learning to respect others. It may
also provide opportunities for the families of children. This may be achieved by, for instance, new parents’ evenings and sports afternoons, as well
as the Parent and Teacher Association.

In contrast to the state sector, the voluntary sector is a sector in which people volunteer to organise and run specific facilities. A mother and toddler
group (that is not aided by the state) or the Brownies and Girl Guides are examples of such organisations (Pugh and Duffy, 2013). Mother and toddler groups
are usually aimed at children who are aged between two and four. Often these kinds of organisations are to be found placed in a church or community hall.
Such buildings have not been designed specifically for children and thus may contain hidden dangers (Bradshaw, 2011). Nevertheless, the staff are usually
parents themselves and the person in charge of the organisation must have at least a Level Three childcare qualification (or an equivalent). It would also
be expected that people who are in positions of trust in such organisations will have been police checked so as to ensure that the children and parents are
safe. The organisation, in this case a mother and toddler group, may ask for a small donation each week, and this may range from 50p in some deprived areas
of northern Scotland, to approximately £5.00 a week in Surrey (Burchinal et al., 2010). This money is used to cover the basic cost of booking the hall
and associated costs such as lighting and water bills. The area in which the organisation is situated may not have an outdoor area for the children to play
in and this can be seen as a disadvantage as keeping fit is an important consideration in the development of children (Marmot and Bell, 2012). It is also
to be expected that toddler groups should follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum so as to ensure that children may be taught appropriately and
their progress monitored from the earliest possible age (Shankoff, 2010). It is also likely that such groups will be Ofsted-inspected, which is important
as it gives the parents confidence as to the quality of education and opportunity being afforded to their offspring in voluntary toddler play groups
(Willow, 2014). Whilst the main aim of a mother and toddler group is to provide short-term care to young children, it should also be remembered that such
groups also need to prepare the toddler for primary school by equipping him or her with the basic skills that he or she will need to excel in school. In
addition such groups also provide social opportunities for the parent or carer (as well as the child) to meet new people and this can help to integrate
marginalised groups within society (Barnett, 2011).

The private sector is one in which people pay extra to get the best available opportunities for their child’s education or health, as well as their own.
When a parent uses a private day nursery he or she is charged for using it, with specific charges depending upon the service delivered and the area of the
country in which the client resides. Though this may not be true in all such facilities, it is suggested by Burchinal et al. (2010) that the private sector
usually provides hot meals for all children who use their services, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas for children to play in. The staff in such
centres are likely to be highly motivated and to receive better remuneration packages that their state sector counterparts (Sims-Schouten and
Stittrich-Lyons, 2014). Though it may be the case that private day nurseries are not housed in purpose-built buildings, many are – and the private
sector tends to pride itself on the quality of the resources that it provides (Walker et al., 2011). As with the state sector, Ofsted may inspect the
facilities provided. It is notable that in the last few years a greater proportion of such facilities within the private sector have been rated as more
consistently excellent than those in the state sector.

The main regulations that govern the care of children in different types of settings

The following is a list of the primary legislation that relates to working with children in a children’s centre:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• Race Relations Act 1976
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Disability and Discrimination Act 2004

Within their day to day working, children’s centres must, at all times, comply with the Data Protection Act, 1998. This can affect daily working
practices as it places a duty of care on practitioners to ensure that records are kept in a safe and secure environment and not shared with third parties
(Willow, 2014). In addition, through the provisions of the Disability and Discrimination Act 2004, it is assured that there will be, within such centres,
no discrimination against any person with respect to their opportunity for employment, the conditions of their employment or the delivery of services as a
consequence of their sex, marital status, race, or disability. Cumulatively, therefore, the laws noted above require children’s centres to make sure
that they perform their responsibilities in a timely and professional manner and, through so doing eliminate unlawful racial discrimination.

The centre should be responsible for and take all such precautions that are necessary to protect the health and safety of all persons employed by it and
should comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any other Acts or Regulations relating to the health and safety of
employed persons (Human Rights Act 1998). It gives further effect in the UK to rights contained in the European Convention of Human Rights.

The Care Standards Act 2000 and the Regulations and National Minimum Standards set out the responsibilities of agencies and carers in promoting the health
of children who are looked after (Davis et al., 2012).

The Education Act 2002 regulates that local authorities and schools are required to protect, safeguard, and promote the welfare of children. This includes
health and safety, child protection and the overall well-being of children. The Every Child Matters guidance and the Children Act 2004 introduced a new
duty (Section 10) to co-operate at a strategic level on local authorities, Primary Care Trusts and other relevant children’s services partners. The focus
of these Acts and the ECM guidance is to protect children and promote the welfare and well-being of children. This encompasses elements such as: being
healthy – enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle; staying safe – being protected from harm and neglect;
enjoying and achieving – getting the most out of learning and life, and developing skills for adulthood; making a positive contribution – being
involved in community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour; and economic well-being – not being prevented by economic
disadvantage from achieving their potential.

Other legislation that helps the health and well-being of children includes the Children Act 1989, which provides care and protection of all children and
young people in need, including those living away from home. Local authorities have a specific duty under Section 22 of the Act to safeguard and promote
the wellbeing of each child they look after. The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 amends the Children Act 1989 and supports the care system, putting in
place the structures necessary to enable children and young people to receive high quality care and support.

Daily care of children

There are many different daily routines for children that can help them develop, such as hygiene, including toileting, washing hands, bed time and teeth
cleaning; meal time routines, involving sitting at the table, using knives, forks and spoons; and sleep routines, to ensure that children acquire healthy
sleeping habits that will stand them in good stead not only through childhood but in adulthood (Barnett, 2011).

Daily routines vary depending where the child is being cared for. Promoting and supporting a child’s independence and self-care is important and a
child’s self-image and self-esteem are vital to their overall well-being (Marmot and Bell, 2012).

For the purposes of this essay, a focus is given on two particular learning activities: tying shoelaces, and dressing appropriately for the weather.

Activity One: Shoelaces

The activity involves teaching children to tie their laces by making a personalised shoe that the children decorate themselves, with laces for them to
practice at home and at day-care.

In this, there are two primary roles: the adult role, helping children learn to tie their laces, and the child’s role, which not only covers learning
to tie shoelaces, but practising doing so at home. This promotes independence because the children feel a sense of accomplishment in achieving a daily
activity that previously adults fulfilled for them. They are able to tie and re-tie their shoes at their convenience and it reduces the need for adult
intervention in dressing. The activity promotes intellectual, physical and emotional well-being (Bruce, Meggitt and Grenier, 2010). The decoration of the
‘practice shoe’ is fun and develops their artistic abilities. Targeted at the four- to five-year old, it is within their technical capability
(Bruce, Meggitt and Grenier, 2010).

Activity Two: Dressing appropriately for the weather

This activity involves dressing up a doll in appropriate clothes for going outside to play, which will keep them warm and dry, or cool, depending on the
weather. The adult fulfils a teaching role by helping the children learn how to dress first a doll, and then themselves, appropriately. The objective for
the child is to understand how clothes are related to temperature, comfort, and the planned activity (such as playing outside, going to the beach, or
walking to school in the rain) (Carroll and McCulloch, 2014).

This learning opportunity promotes independence by helping them to dress themselves for appropriate situations and weather. Ultimately, they will develop
the ability to choose the clothes that they want to wear within a range of acceptable options. The children learn to stay healthy by avoiding becoming
drenched, cold, or sunburnt, and their reliance on adults is decreased (Moyles, Georgeson and Payler, 2011). This builds on their intellectual, physical,
emotional, and health-related skills (Bruce, Meggitt and Grenier, 2010). The use of the doll can help the activity be fun. The activity can be extended by
considering holiday clothing, seasonal variations, and so on.

Key issues which enable multi-professional teams to work together

A multi-professional team approach allows professionals to share knowledge about a family’s needs so that the parents do not have to answer the same
questions over and over again (David, 2013). The professionals are aware of each other’s roles in supporting the family so that conflicting advice
can be minimised. It is essential that each agency communicates well and understands not only their role and responsibilities but those of the other
agencies as well.

Parents/guardians are the most important people in a child’s life, and carers recognise the importance of this. They have a responsible role that involves
sharing care of the child with parents/guardians; listen to parents/guardians, as they are the ‘expert’ on their child (Sylva et al., 2010). Respect
must always be shown for family traditions and childcare practices and when, for instance, there has been a bereavement, it may be important to engage the
assistance of an educational psychologist to assess behavioural needs and bring about positive behaviour. Indeed, by adopting a multi-professional approach
to working with children and parents the chances of the child being allowed ‘to slip through the net’ of negligence or abuse is minimised.

An understanding of diversity and inclusive practices

Recognising diversity is about recognising that children can come from lots of different backgrounds and family structures (Burchinal et al., 2010).
Diversity means responding in a positive manner to differences, and valuing all people. The following, though not an exclusive list, can be seen as a solid
foundation of ‘checks’ upon which professionals should base their approaches to both children and parents.

• All children are citizens and have rights and entitlements.

• Children should be treated fairly regardless of race, religion or abilities. This applies no matter:

  • What they think or say

  • What type of family they come from

  • What language(s) they speak

  • What their parents do

  • Whether they are girls or boys

  • Whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor

• All children have an equal right to be listened to and valued in the setting.

It follows that practitioners should aim to improve the physical environment when such improvements are needed. This might include the increased use of
physical aids to access education such as ICT equipment and portable aids for children with motor co-ordination and poor hand/eye skills. New buildings
should also be physically accessible to disabled pupils by making sure that they have access to existing buildings through the use of ramps and wider
doors. Such improvements must be ongoing within organisations to ensure that no section of society is marginalised (Marmot and Bell, 2012). Improving the
delivery of information to disabled children at nurseries or schools is a very important objective. The information given (and the manner in which it is
given) should take account of pupils’ disabilities and parents’ preferred formats. It follows that all children should be treated fairly regardless of
race, religion or abilities. This applies no matter what they think or say, what type of family they come from, what language(s) they speak, what their
parents do, whether they are girls or boys or whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor. Bradshaw (2011) stresses the importance of
treating all people equally and with respect.

All children have an equal right to be listened to and valued in the setting and all children have a need to develop. These are natural parts of their life
and they must be supported at all times within a given setting. This is especially true if there is a scenario in which children’s development may be at
risk. For example, children who are disabled and those with special educational needs, those from socially excluded families, the homeless or those who
live with a parent who is disabled or has a mental illness, children from traveller communities, refugees or asylum seekers and those from diverse
linguistic backgrounds may all faces especial challenges in their individual development. These must be assessed and catered for in an holistic manner to
ensure that every child reaches their own maximum potential. This is because, as Wall (2010) notes, all children are entitled to enjoy a full life in which
conditions are established by which they may take part in society and develop as individuals, Practitioners must therefore ensure that their own knowledge
about different cultural groups is up-to-date and that they consider their own attitudes to people who are different from themselves.

Children in the UK are raised in a society with many sources of cultural diversity (Carroll and McCulloch, 2014). Good early years practice needs to
support this from the earliest months of babyhood. Practitioners need to work to create a positive learning environment. Play materials, books and other
resources can be offered in a helpful way by reflecting on how young children learn about culture and cultural identity. Such diversity and inclusion is
also linked to legislation such the Children Act 1989, Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, Rights of Children 1989 and the Race Relations
Act 1976. Children like experiencing food, music or dance forms that reflect their own family and neighbourhood experiences, as Gray (2014) elaborates.
Early childhood is a good time to offer opportunities that enable children to stretch themselves beyond that with which they are already familiar. Children
can learn to appreciate cultural diversity in styles of art, craft, music and dance and all opportunities need to be well grounded in positive pride for
styles common to every child’s own background.

Meeting children’s diverse learning needs means identifying needs, developing individual goals and objectives, selecting or designing appropriate supports
and services, and then choosing the best learning setting in which those goals can be realised, and ideally, exceeded. It logically follows, therefore,
that the role and responsibilities of an early years practitioner should be cater to the individual child’s needs, and to teach them what they need to know
and to find out the right way to teach them. Thus, the practitioner must be well-versed in a range of different teaching pedagogies and apply the most
appropriate one to the given child at all times (Spodek and Sarancho, 2014). Indeed, it is particularly important, in this regard, to understand different
planning stages when planning activities for children and to understand a child’s age and stage of development when planning tasks for them (Sylva et al.,
2010). It is imperative, that the activities planned are stage-appropriate for them to increase knowledge. Setting appropriate tasks and initiatives helps
practitioners meet the individual needs of children (Bruce, Meggitt and Grenier, 2010).

A discussion of two strategies for improving learning and performance

There are many ways in which a person can improve their own learning and performance. Two are discussed in this section.

The first is being under observation. A member of staff could observe you and give you feedback on where you are doing well, and where you need to improve.
This could be a colleague, or it could be a formal inspection. The person observing can give you tailored feedback and ideally there should be plenty of
time to discuss their observation. This should lead to personal reflection and the setting of career development goals – whereby you can spend time
working on improving those areas (observed) where you displayed weakness. The importance of this form of observation and subsequent career development is
noted by David (2013).

The second commonly used approach is to reflect on one’s own practice and to use this reflection to inform further improvement (Paige-Smith and
Craft, 2011). This may involve a reflective practice model, such as Kolb’s theory of experiential learning (Kolb, 1984). I have frequently used his
reflective cycle – and by noting what has gone well and what areas need further improvement, I have been able to learn how to handle situations more
smoothly and to apply knowledge effectively.

Through combining both approaches I have gone through official ‘professional development’ sessions and have held protracted discussions with my
line manager and other practitioners. Through so doing we have all shared best practice and perceived improvements in our daily working lives with each
other and the way in which we plan activities for the children (David, 2013).

A brief overview of how regulations can influence care provision

Legislation plays a significant role in working practices within an early years setting but the primary aim is to safeguard and protect children and their
families. Legislation, policies and procedures involve those relating to medicines, staffing and employment laws, child protection policies, health and
safety, equal opportunities, behaviour management, special educational needs and working with parents (Shonkoff and Bales, 2011).

Children and young people should feel happy, safe, respected and included in the school or early years setting environment and all staff should be
proactive in promoting positive behaviour in the classroom, playground and the wider community (Willow, 2014). Policies and practice help to make sure the
safety and wellbeing of children is in place and it is this legislation, developed through many years and experiences, and even mistakes, that underpin the
working practices that are used today (Shonkoff, 2010).

The owner of the workplace as a practitioner is to make sure they have knowledge of the workplace setting’s policies and procedures and that these are put
into practice at all times (Bruce, Meggitt and Grenier, 2010). This is done by checking, maintaining and using safety equipment appropriately and keeping
to safe working practices. Owners and managers also have a responsibility to make sure that staff have the necessary training to put policies into
practice, including first aid training, basic food hygiene, and the use of safety equipment (David, 2013). They must consider and maintain the welfare of
employees by ensuring that the workplace is healthy and safe environment to be in. They should also undertake regular risk assessments of the environment,
equipment and activities also keep documentation for all aspects of risk assessment, accidents, incidents and illnesses and implementation of emergency
drills and procedures (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974).

Each workplace or early years setting must have a safe and secure environment and must have an illness and emergency care policy. The policy for a
workplace/nursery should deal with a number of matters such as exclusion, illness, immunisation status, infectious diseases, injury, medication, minor
accidents and serious medical emergency situations or accidents (Children and Young Persons Act 2008).

Such policies are designed to protect the safety and wellbeing of children in the early years setting by providing a safe and healthy environment for
children. Accordingly, for example, the owner of the facility must ensure that at least one staff member on duty with the children has a first aid
qualification. At all times, professionals must remember that these regulations are designed to protect children so that their development is optimised.

Effective multi-professional team-working

A multi-professional approach covers many aspects of team work. Teams need to apply a variety of practices and skills (Burks and Kobus, 2012) that
demonstrate:

• Empathy: Seeing something from another person’s point of view;

• Interpersonal skills: How to communicate and respond to others, and provide interaction with parents, children and colleagues;

• Reflectiveness: Consider personal and team planning, activities, improvements, skills and so on;

• Interest: Attending training, reading articles, and an approach to learning to maintain interest in the job;

• Flexibility and openness: A willingness to accept new ideas and initiatives, new government legislation, and research on the ways children learn;

• Reliability: Parents and children need to be able to rely on their caregivers at all times; and

• Emotional stability: Maintaining professional objectivity, not becoming too involved and emotional to the degree that judgement is clouded.

Communication is a very important tool for practitioners and multi-agency teams and it is important that they communicate well (Carroll and McCulloch,
2014). These include

• Notice boards – quick references, bullet points;

• Diary boards – dates of meetings, report deadlines;

• Letters;

• Emails;

• Phone calls; and

• Team meetings – progress meetings, committee meetings.

Written communication and a concise record of reports or meetings is also required. A multi-agency approach means that the team must hold regular meetings
(David, 2013).

My personal reflection

My role as an early years practitioner is to assist with the development and care of children. I may be responsible for organising a room and making sure
that policies and procedures are being followed and recorded. I have to cater for their needs as young children; developmentally, physically and socially.
This ensures that I am promoting and maintaining a healthy environment for all children (Marmot and Bell, 2012). It is also important that to learn by
experiencing and learning from others.

In my role I have to plan and provide a caring and stimulating environment that is appropriate for individual children and enables children to reach their
full potential (Nutbrown and Clough, 2014). This means I must work within the Children Act and local guidelines, legislation and standards so that child
protection policies and procedures are adhered to at all times (Daniel, Gilligan and Wassell, 2011). I need to plan and prepare exciting play opportunities
that meet the children’s developmental needs and stimulate their learning.

It is also important to establish and maintain positive relationships with the children and their families in a way that values parental involvement, and
to provide a service that respects children’s life experiences and celebrates diversity in terms of language, culture, ability, race and religion (Read,
2014).

I also participate in supervision and staff development processes in support of personal development and undertake training as appropriate to meet any
changes in standards or appropriate legal requirements as required (Sims-Schouten and Stittrich-Lyons, 2014). In appraising and reflecting upon issues, a
practitioners should take the time to review the where, why, how, when, and so on of situations faced (Kolb, 1984). Another useful reflective model is that
designed by Gibbs (1988), originally intended to boost the processes in Kolb’s model. Gibbs’ reflective cycle helps the practitioner to
evaluate individual situations and event. It broken down into six units: description of the event; understanding the feelings about what happened;
evaluation of the event; analysis of the event and side issues related to it; drawing a conclusion; and finally, developing an action plan to improve
practice in the future. Trial and error is also an important reflective approach so that the educator may review how and why things happen (Moyles,
Georgeson and Payler, 2011).

Conclusion

Reflective practice is a vital aspect of working with young children, providing practitioners with the evidence to form judgements about their role and
input into the learning cycle. In addition, it is pivotal to ensure that all organisations involved in the welfare of children conform to best practice
with regards to safety and that they provide a stimulating environment in which all children can perform to the best of their ability. Treating all clients
with respect is a key requirement for all professional staff to ensure that children feel happy and confident in both receiving care and asking for help.
As Britain has become more diverse as a society it has also become increasingly critical to ensure that in dealing with clients all professionals leave any
personal prejudices behind and treat all equally and with dignity. Further, through performing interactive diagnosis with clients as to their individual
needs, not only will the individuals be bettered but, in addition, the professional will enhance their existing skills set.

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