lo2

1. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
CACHE LEVEL 3
EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR
Unit 2.1 An introduction to the
role of the early years
practitioner

2. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Teddy Tots
1. Reflect on your Teddy Tots Session What went well during
the session?
2. What might you need to improve for next session?
3. Evaluate your Activity Plans
4. Plan your activities for your next session.

3. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Starter activity
Time: 15 mins
Demonstrate different communication methods
You will work with your partner to demonstrate your communication method
give to you by your lecturer
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1]

4. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Learning outcomes
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and preferences
• Identify reasons why people communicate
• Explain how communication affects all aspects of own practice
• Use communication methods that meet individuals’ communication
needs and preferences

5. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Why we
communicate
To share
news
To ask
questions
To
answer
questions
To be
sociable
To help
others
To help
ourselves
To learn
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1]

6. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Communication affects all aspects of practice and practitioners
need to communicate with a range of people, these include:
• Colleagues and other professionals.
• Parent/s carers
• Children
Communicating with others
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2]

7. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Reflection activity
Time: 15 mins
Reflect on your own communication skills.
Consider:
• Are you confident when speaking to others?
• Can you remember information and pass it on to others?
• Can you adapt your voice when talking to children?
• Are you happy to ask questions if you are unsure about
something?
• Why are these important skills?
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2]

8. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
• Practitioners need to communicate regularly with
parents/carers. This will range from saying hello in the
morning to telling parents/carers something that has
happened to their child in the setting.
• Children and practitioners are constantly communicating
throughout the day. This is a two-way process and
practitioners may need to adapt their communication
methods to suit the individual needs of the child.
• Practitioners will communicate with colleagues and other
professionals on a daily basis and for a variety of reasons.
Communicating with others
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2]

9. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Group activity
Time: 15 mins
Identify why practitioners need to communicate with:
• Parents and carers
• Children
• Colleagues and other professionals.
For each example, include when and how this communication
may take place.
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2]

10. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
• It is important that practitioners are able to communicate
effectively with those around them.
• Communicating with others is a vital way of information
sharing and it helps build relationships.
• If practitioners did not communicate with others then they
would not be able to do their job effectively.
Communicating with others
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2]

11. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Pairs activity
Time: 15 mins
Discuss the impact of effective communication in your setting.
Consider:
• How does important information get shared amongst the
team?
• How do telephone messages get passed on?
• How do practitioners respond to children’s questions?
• Is there time for practitioners to talk to parents/carers at the
end of the day?
• Why is all of this important?
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2]

12. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
• It is important that appropriate methods of communication
are used to meet individual needs and preferences.
• Practitioners may need to adapt how they communicate with
others.
• There are a range of communication methods and
practitioners need to consider what they are saying, who they
are saying it to and why they are saying it in order to select
the most suitable method.
Methods of communication
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.3]

13. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Classroom discussion activity
Time: 15 mins
Identify a range of communication methods and describe when
they would be used.
Consider:
• Written communication
• Spoken communication
• Signs and symbols.
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.3]

14. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Extension activity
LO2. Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and
preferences [AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3]
Time: 15 mins
You have been asked to share an idea with the team. How would
you prepare yourself to communicate your idea effectively?
Consider:
• What you want to tell them
• How, when and where you are going to tell them
• How you will deal with any questions.

15. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Extension activity
Prepare for Placement,
Placement forms, ‘Be able to’ criteria.
Placement hand book.
Prepare for first observation

16. PP
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One click Blue – two clicks Yellow
Blockbusters

17. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Summary
 Effective communication is essential for an early years practitioner.
 There are a range of communication methods to suit individual needs
and preferences.
 Practitioners need to be able to communicate with parents/carers,
children, colleagues and other professionals on a daily basis.

18. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Summary: plenary activities
1. List five reasons for communicating with others.
2. Name three different methods of communication.
3. How would you tell a parent/carer about:
• A trip
• An accident
• An activity that their child did really well in.