To consider the role of the early years practitioner’s duty to identify potential developmental issues in babies and children
Aim
To consider the early years practitioner’s duty to identify potential developmental issues in babies and children. Consider the complex role of differentiating between the need to allow the child to develop at their own pace with the need to refer the child for assessment or support from other professionals.
Evidence and reflection
We suggest that you work with a colleague and consider times when you have suspected that a child may have Special Educational Needs or developmental issues which needed professional intervention. Consider times when this was the case and the child benefited from the support. Also consider times when this was not the case and that the child’s development differed from what you had expected.
Extension
Are there children you that you have concerns about now? Discuss with your colleague the developmental differences between the children you currently work with. Do you make assumptions about how these children will progress in the future? Are these assumptions justified?
