The Influence of Policy in the Early Years Setting - Essay Example

The influence of policy in my early years setting Part Currently, I am working with the childminder curriculum framework as a home based carer. There are two childminder programmes, i.e. childminder 1 and childminder 2 (“BCMA” web). Registered childminders, for instance in England are registered to provide care for at least five children. Personally, I am registered to offer care to children from the age of infancy. Bromley Childminding Association wrote the curriculum program that I use in providing care to my clients. They also hold the responsibility of updating the curriculum whenever necessary. Moreover, they conduct studies on the status of childminding activities in England and publish them regularly. The first publication of the curriculum took place in the year 2006, under the watch of Liz Hodgman. Initially, it did not have as many roles as it has currently, as the organization kept on increasing these features to what it currently is, purposively to improve the services provided to the kids. The curriculum aims at sensitizing both the teacher and the parents on the kind of skills and knowledge that a kid should have at various stages. According to the guidelines presented in the curriculum, it aims at giving the teachers an understanding of the desired skills, knowledge, and expertise required for the early year children. They also acquire information on how to best deal with the kids on various situations while providing them with care. Parents on the other hand should be aware of the skills they expect their children to acquire after passing through the early years in school. There are two categories of age range for this curriculum framework. The first category includes children aged between 3 and 4 years and 4 and 5 years. Teachers should teach the specific skills as stated in the different stages. There are different stages that students should pass through in their learning process. Additionally, there are specific materials required for every stage and the grading criteria for every stage. The aim of the curriculum framework is providing equal and similar information and education to the children by giving the required guidelines to the teachers. As such, it provides information on what teachers need to teach their students, for instance the subjects to cover as well as the standards that students need to cover in each subject taught. In most cases, teachers affiliated to the program conduct studies that they forward to the policy makers as recommendations on how to improve the program. Additionally, the experts themselves could conduct a general study affecting all teachers or students, then draw conclusions and pass it as a policy or new information in the various newsletters, available to childminders in form of downloadable pdf documents. In every issue, either a research work or a newsletter, there is contact information of the contributors available for the readers. There is frequent improvement of the curriculum program framework. Therefore, there is a likelihood of some changes in the framework, or the curriculum not yet communicated to the people. Changes must also have taken place on the reporting process of the various curriculum changes, especially since there is use of the teachers’ TV anymore (“BCMA” web). Part 2 Caution is important whenever teaching kids, especially the infants. The main difference between a schoolteacher and a childminder is that while a childminder has to both take care of the child and at the same time teach, a schoolteacher only holds the responsibility of teaching. Most of the school going kids, whether in their early ages or in their teens can take care of themselves. In the preparatory school for instance, they can take care of themselves, does not require special attention like in the case of infants. While these kids can eat and use the washrooms, toddlers have to rely on the caregiver for all their needs. This is not only a challenging work for an individual, it is equally stressing. Different kids require different attention, especially if they fall into different age categories. Some of the childminders go through immense pressure in providing care to the children, while others do not have adequate information in providing the required care to the kids. In most cases, problems arise in the course of proving care to the children. The curriculum frameworks come handy to childminders in these situations. The childminding association often publishes information from different researches they conduct related to care giving to the students. They then release them inform of publications that teachers can download from the website and read. This way, they equip teachers with the required knowledge on taking care of the children. Although we receive adequate training before starting practicing as childminders, knowledge keeps on evolving. With this evolution is also the development of new skills and techniques, which childminders require to have. Having busy schedules during the day, and with the evening occupied with household chores for childminders, these pamphlets acts as a rich source of knowledge and education for childminders we read them on our free time, and thus do not have to join a class for the purpose of receiving this training (“CWCD” 7&8). We even do not have to visit a public library to assess such crucial information, as it is available to us through the website. As information developed, so do new challenges come about. For instance, the increased growth in the technological sector brings into existence new technological machines, tools and equipment. Some are so crucial and necessary to the job that having them is mandatory. Some however have side effects on kids. Through research, the curriculum framework provides the information necessary on the most effective and the dangerous tools and equipment, for example toys to use to the students. They also provide us with adequate and up to date information on the new equipment releases that are likely to make our jobs easy and better. The informative role of the curriculum does not only entail the publication of the necessary information for these tools. It also involves information on the diseases that can potentially harm our children. Taking the role of a childminder, one assumes the role of a mother. They have to show concern to the kids, especially in their health. As such, we have to know the best medicine to administer, and in other cases, have to be aware of any disease outbreaks in our areas of operation. Some of the parents also rely upon us as their consultants; for they believe, we are more knowledgeable with kids. This informative role of the curriculum plays a significant role in providing high quality care and support to my clients. I experience minimum challenges in the field, and I can solve most of them whenever they happen. Additionally, there is an opportunity for sharing among the different childminders using the curriculum. One of the most significant issues that we share is the challenges that we go through while delivering our services to the people (“CWCD” 18). In addition to this, we share on the most exciting experiences we have had in the field, which unites us as a single community. This gives us the feeling of togetherness. As a group, and through sharing, we find it easy to coupe with different issues whenever they happen. For instance, if one of us faces a problem we have never faced before, we seek for a collective solution, either through research or by providing a forum where we could post our ideas ion the best ways of solving the problem. This helps in a fast and efficient way of solving problems in amongst the caregivers using a single curriculum. For highly technical problems, the developers undertake to conduct research on the best methods of solving the issue. In most cases, not only do we come up with the ways and means of solving the problem, we look for long-term solutions to the problem. Where applicable, we also look for ways and means of avoiding such incidences before they happen. As a result, I exhibit high levels of confidence while discharging my duties, with the understanding that even if I faced a problem,, somebody would provide me with the required solution to the problem. Additionally, I feel part of a community, because we are many, who raise our voice through the curriculum. With the understanding that there are other people facing similar challenges and problems as I do, I feel motivated to work harder. This wins the confidence of most of the parents, who highly entrust me with their children. As a home based childminder, I have nobody to rely on while making any form of enquiries from, especially in the kind of care to provide to the special kids. In some cases, I receive kids too young to be toddlers, while other times i receive physically challenged kids. i have to provide these kids with the necessary care, regardless of their ages or problems that they face, I have to undertake my duties of extending carte to them. This is not an easy task, especially for inexperienced individuals in the industry. Even those with adequate training but do not receive any refresher courses face a myriad of problems in dealing with these issues. However, personally, I do not find it as a challenging undertaking, due to the fact that I have the curriculum, which keeps me updated with the essential needs for the for job. There are rules and regulations that govern the childminding teachers. Some of these include the codes of ethics, and the rules of operation. Some keep on changing frequently. Therefore, the curriculum framework notes of these changes, and communicates them to the teachers through newsletters. As such, I am never operating in contradiction with the law. Hence, I have never fallen into trouble with the law. Childminders have the responsibility of taking care of children. This is not an easy task, as children require a lot of attention in their caring programs than human beings. Understanding all that is required of a child is not an easy task, as they differ with age, culture and other times in their interests. Whenever entrusted with these kids, a childminder requires having adequate knowledge, skills, and information on how to deal with the kids and challenges whenever they occur. It is through these ways that the curriculum has helped me discharge my duties in an excellent way. Works Cited BCMA. Bromley Childminding Association; Curriculum planning. 2006. Web. 2 November 2013 http://www.bromleycma.org.uk/curriculum_planning.html Children’s Workforce Development Council (“CWDC”). The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge, Leeds, CWDC. 2010. Web. 2 November 2013 www.leics.gov.uk/commoncore_2010_final-2.pdf (Accessed 4 May 2011). Read More