Laser Lessons - Lesson

Be able to promote the development of children or young people

Case Study

Esme is 6 years old and is very able. She is capable of reading books that are designed for 10 year olds and is writing long complicated stories.

How could you ensure that Esme’s developmental needs are met and that she is challenged?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.

Table of Contents

Tutorial Video
Reading Materials

‘Learning in care: Activities for professionals who work with children in residential care to help support the development of skills in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing’ written by the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland.
‘What is Holistic Development?’ on the Shamina’s Workshop website
‘Person centred planning with children and young people: The Tower Hamlets model’
‘Engaging children in decision making’ Derby City and Neighbourhood Partnerships
‘Involving children in decision making’ from the Fostering Handbook.
‘Barriers to participation’ from the Council for Disabled Children

Presentation
Good Practice Example
Interactive Quiz
Evidence Opportunities
Extended Learning

This article from the Virtual Lab School looks at ‘Supporting physical development: Environments and Experiences’ in school aged children and young people.
Click to read the ‘Physical activity guidelines for children and young people’ from the NHS.
‘11 Ways to Improve Cognitive Development in Early Childhood’ from the Empowered Parents website provides an overview of how children learn and think, some examples of cognitive skills, and the typical stages of cognitive development in early childhood. There are also eleven simple, actionable tips for those working with children.
In ‘Social and emotional skills’ from the Mentally Healthy Schools website the article looks at how social and emotional skills are the skills that help children and young people develop their resilience and manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviour and how they can be developed.
Read this article on ‘Why values Are important for children’s mental health’ from the TATF website and make notes on approaches you can use in your role.
Click to read ‘Communicating effectively with children and young people’ on the Fostering and Adoption website for ideas on supporting children and young people with their communication development.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states children have a right to be active participants in all matters affecting their lives. Read more about how this is applied in Australia in ‘Supporting agency: Involving children in decision-making’,
Read the ‘Introduction’ and Care Planning’ to see how plans are made for those in care under ‘The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations’ produced by the Department for Education.
How flexible is your setting when something unexpected happens, like a spider being seen, or snow starting to fall outside, or when children want to know something that is not part of the set activities?

Think And Challenge