APEL Level 3 Certificate in work with children(Early Years or Playwork), Unit 2: reflect on practice
Section 4 - Reflect on the ways in which you ensure that your practice prioritises and responds to the needs of the children in your setting Unlike the previous three sections, section 4 asks you to reflect on what you do, rather than explain it. If you can reflect on your practice this can indicate your depth of understanding and ability to set in motion a continuous improvement cycle. This is best practice, and it is why reflective analysis is used within the APEL qualification. Reflection is a process of stepping back and looking critically at what we do, how we do it, why we do it that way and whether we should change the way we do it in the future. It helps you to highlight the parts of your practice that need improvement.
Sub-section 1
Examples, with reasons, which illustrate how you put children at the centre of your practice.
* This gives you an opportunity to choose some good examples of the way you work in a child-centred way. The examples could be about particular activities or events, your day-to-day practice or your response to a particular concern or crisis.
* Do not simply write out the examples - you must give good reasons why this shows that children are at the centre of your practice. It will be obvious to you, but do not make the mistake of assuming that it will also be obvious to the scrutineers or panel.
Sub-section 2
Strengths, weaknesses and training and development needs of your practice in this area.
* This might sound difficult to do, but all you need to do is to spend a little time thinking about the things you know you are good at and also the aspects of your work that you know could be improved. You might wish to get a colleague or your manager to work with you on this one and to give you pointers to think about.
* For example, you may be very good at planning for individual children but less good at changing your plans and supervising the involvement of other staff. This may indicate that you need more confidence as a supervisor and the ability to motivate staff and introduce more flexible working, to identify your own personal training needs.
Sub-section 3
The factors which have had positive and negative effects on your practice in this area.
* This is not asking you to undertake an in-depth personal analysis. You do, however, need to think about what has influenced your practice. It may be your early training and the type of setting you worked in when you first entered the sector. It may be an individual or group of people who 'always did it this way'. Maybe you have never questioned this way of working. Some people are influenced by what they read and the kinds of training they have undertaken. Others can identify that a real influence has been lack of funding or poor physical environments.
* If you have been influenced by quality assurance schemes, regulation and inspection or national occupational standards, you could identify them, highlighting those that have had a positive effect and those with a more negative effect. Make sure you respect confidentiality and do not give names or settings.
* It is inevitable that your own values and beliefs have an effect on the way you practise. There is nothing wrong with this, but you need to be able to show the scrutineers and the panel that you are aware of it and other ways your practice has been influenced.
* You should also consider things like the principles, assumptions and values of the early years or playwork sector. These are very important statements of best practice and are based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. You might wish to look at this to check your own practice.
NB: Remember to always follow the requirements of your awarding body - your mentor will provide support to help you get a clear picture of what these are.
