Playwork

|Assessment task P.w 3.14 |pc’s / knowledge | | All children are very different. Their needs can be very simple or very complex and will constantly be changing and | | |developing. The play opportunities that we offer should be geared towards meeting these needs and preferences especially | | |any additional or particular need a child may have. To identify these needs you should have a knowledge of the individual| | |children in our setting, plus knowledge of the child development. If our setting does not meet the needs and preferences | | |of the children attending the children will become bored and it is highly likely that attendances will fall. | | |At times the children will need support in their play, but any support given by you should focus on encouraging | | |independence and getting them to practice skills for themselves. In providing stimulating, interesting and challenging | | |play opportunities that are developmentally appropriate we are providing the potential for the children to extend | | |themselves. | | |To ensure that our setting is meeting the needs of the children that attend our setting, feedback from them will enable | | |us to assess and improve the service that we provide. To monitor the children’s involvement in our setting we can use the| | |following techniques :- | | |Observation |K 1.1 | |Chats | | |Suggestion boxes | | |Questionnaires | | |Children forums | | |Monitoring forms | | |Our setting should provide a range of opportunities that cover all | | | | | | | | | |K 1.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 1.3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |The different play areas and which meet the development needs of the different children who attend. If you do not ask the| | |children in our care and set out activities that you think they would like you may be disappointed at the lack of | | |interest they may show. This could be in relation to the physical, from the decoration and the layout to the equipment | | |and materials that we provide. Asking the children what they want will help them to feel like the environment is their | | |own. | | | | | |The child should always be at the centre of any play activity; this means that the play opportunities should focus on the| | |children on what they want and need. How a child plays can be classified into four categories: | | |Observation – a child will copy an action demonstrated to them, e.g hitting a ball with a racquet. | | |Exploration – encouraging the child to try a new activity e.g. tag games where children will be learning new skills and | | |socialising. | | |Experimentation – providing time and space for the child to have a go at an activity in a relaxed environment. | | |Repetitiveness – to gain more of an understanding of a particular activity or skill, children will want to repeat it. | | | | | |By creating these play spaces it is also important that the children feel that is theirs. Making sure that the children | | |have a stake in the play environment contributes to their development, as it encourages them to work co-operatively, | | |considering not just their own needs but the needs of other children. | | |It is important to create play spaces that the children can adapt to meet their own needs as this will allow them to | | |extend their knowledge, build on their natural curiosity, allow them to explore different concepts and it will also | | |assist in all round development. It will also hold their interests for a while longer. | | |Where there is a clear shortage of resources the setting may find it hard to provide stimulating opportunities for the | | |children. If this is the case by using the equipment audit will show that there is an identifiable problem. | | | | | | | | | | | |Instead of complaining about equipment, offer ideas about what we need and how much it will cost before going ahead and | | |either buying in equipment or fund raising by checking out any policies to see if accepting second hand toys/resources is| | |applicable will help us to create more or different play opportunities for the children. | | | | | |It is important for the children to choose and explore play spaces for themselves as this will stimulate them and make | | |their play more enjoyable minimising the risk of them becoming bored. It will also develop their self-esteem and learn | | |how to make choices and decisions by co-operating and using their imagination. | | |In some situations you will see from children’s body language and play that they wish to be away from adults. They may | | |huddle and create a den, or their play might stop as adults come near. Once you have satisfied yourself that their play | | |is safe, take the hint! If play seems particularly secretive, however, you should maintain a close but discreet eye, in | | |case the children are doing something dangerous. | | |Sometimes children may invite you to join in, but you might see that your presence would stop them from gaining the most | | |out of their play. By not taking part you will be able to give the children greater ownership of and more satisfaction | | |from the activity which they will then have done by themselves. | | |Whenever possible, let the children finish their play spontaneously. They then feel in control and will leave the play | | |activity feeling satisfied. | | |It is important not to show the children ‘better ways’ of doing things unless they ask as this will avoid boredom which, | | |in turn, avoids unwanted behaviour, it also creates a truly child centred play environment that the children will want to| | |attend. This will also ensure that each member of the group feels important and valued. | | |You need to be aware of the play cues, the verbal language, body language or facial expressions that children show which | | |may indicate that they are not happy with a situation. We should be aware of these cues and assist the child in a way | | |that does not undermine their confidence. | | | | | | | | |The more time we spend working with children the more accustomed we will become to recognising and acting upon their play|K 1.4 | |cues. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 2.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 2.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 2.3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 2.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 3.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 3.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 3.3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 3.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 3.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |K 3.6 | Candidates Signature:…………………………………………………… Date: Assessors Signature:…………………………………………………….. Date: ----------------------- PAGE NO. Candidate’s Name: Jakki Gelhardt Date: Assessor’s Name: Catherine Welsby Location: Time spent: FEEDBACK ON OBSERVATION :