Childcare Staff Research: Meeting Child Needs

Introduction:
I have chosen one area in my environment and that is the home corner in my setting. I have chosen this as Siolta standard 2 and standard 6 links to this particular area. Siolta standard 2 is enriching environments and according to this the home corners should be safe and adaptable for the children and should be stimulating for each child’s development. The equipment should be reachable for each child and appropriate.
“Enriching environments, both indoor and outdoor (including materials and equipment) are well-maintained, safe, available, accessible, adaptable, developmentally appropriate, and offer a variety of challenging and stimulating experiences.”
Standard 6 links into the home corner as each child needs appropriate resources for them to explore and use their creativity while in interaction with other children. They should have support from the staff. Each child should have a equal amount of time to play freely and developmentally.
“Promoting play requires that each child has ample time to engage in freely available and accessible, developmentally appropriate and well-resourced opportunities for exploration, creativity and ‘meaning making’ in the company of other children, with participating and supportive adults and alone, where appropriate.”
(2) Findings of my research:
My primary research consists of a survey for staff members, interview with parents and children. My findings on my research and the feedback I was giving was great. I found that some of the answers were very familiar with one another.
On my survey for staff I asked questions such as “How do you cater for all age groups and their interests? The response was each room is catered for certain age groups and toys reflect on age + activities.”
Another question was “How are each individual child’s needs met in relation to diversity and equality within the setting? The answered we try to nurture and respect each child’s needs and diversity abilities in a caring loving manner”.
I also asked “How does this particular area help promote the overall holistic development of the child as a whole? The response I was given was theme Belonging + identity family walls and pictures.”
On my interview questions for parents I asked “Do you feel welcome, comfortable and involved in crèches life? The parent said yes the staff are great and very welcoming.”
I also asked “How would you rate the standard of the materials and environment in our setting? The parent replied with excellent they meet each child’s development needs.”
I find my feedback giving bye parents was great as the parents seemed a lot happy with the setting and their environment.
I found that the crèche is very friendly and the home corner is very important to them as most of the children’s interest is the home corner it is also beneficial to each child’s individual needs as it will make them feel like they are at home and make them happy to be in the setting as they are here for along amount of time throughout the day. It is good for their developmental skills and also they are using their imagination, communicating with other children while interacting this is benefitting each child loads.
My findings: Staff survey
Bright Stimulating:
The Staff told me it was very bright and stimulating for each child. I found this as it is very bright.
Equipment:
The staff said there was a lot of space and the equipment they had was great.
Is it suitable for all age groups:
The home corner is covering each child’s interest and is suitable for all age groups. I found this as the materials used in it is suitable for all age groups.
Links with Aistears 4 themes:
The home corner does link with Aistears 4 themes as the children will be communicating with others, exploring and thinking they will be using their imagination and learning skills.
Promoting equality and diversity: The staff members try everything they can to nurture and respect each child’s needs and diversity abilities. I found this as I can notice them trying to promote equality in a weekly basis.
Can children seek support from childcare Practitioners?
Yes adults are there to help children when needed.
Safety:
The home area is safe as it has no materials that would cause any accidents and all equipment is reachable to all children.
Child Friendly:
Yes the home corner is very friendly and realistic for each child to feel homely.
P.I.L.E.S
The home corner does develop P.I.L.E.S as it helps them develop and challenge themselves
My findings: Interview with parents
Bright Stimulating:
I found the parents said it was very colourful and bright.
Equipment:
Parents said there was lots of equipment
Is it suitable for all age groups:
The home corner is suiting all age groups.. I found this as the materials used in it is suitable for all age groups.
Promoting equality and diversity:
The parents told me the home corner does promote equality and diversaitry. I found this true as I can notice them trying to promote equality in a weekly basis.
Can children seek support from childcare Practitioners?
The parents said staff are great and offer lots of support
Safety:
The home area is safe. This is true as there is no equipment to cause any accident and the children are all able to reach.
Child Friendly:
Yes the home corner is very friendly and realistic for each child to feel homely.
The learning environment facilitates movement for children aged 2-3 years bye when each child is learning how to control their hand eye co-ordination. The staff is learning each child how to use it by picking up small objects a spoon for example the child is then starting to use his/her fine motor skills and palmer grasp. They also learn through doing activities such as painting and drawing as they will be holding a paintbrush or pencil. They are learning how to deal with their balance while they draw and paint. They can do some activities like play dough sand or water play this is helping them to sense what their hands are for and use their skills. This helps al other domains of development as they are using different skills such as listening they are taking in what has been said and their communication skills.

Recommendations

Plan

Sensory Materials

Short Term- Ready-made play dough that’s already in it.
Medium Term – Different play dough (Cooked play dough)
Long Term- Just put flower and water in the home area and let them make it.

Water Basin

Short Term- To Have floor matts down on the floor so there are no accidents.
Long term- Invest in water dispensers and have them filed up water.

Fabric

Short Term- To have table cloths, and scarfs in the home corner.
Medium- Staff and parents bring in materials from home.
Long term: Invest in different fabric materials budget the money for this

Culture

Short Term- Hang up posters of different flags, and countries
Medium Term- Get the staff and children to make them
Long Term- Budget and invest in some real ones along with bringing in different foods from different countries E.G Italy- Pasta

Moving the Home corner outside

Short Term- To have cardboard drawers and shelf’s outside
Medium Term- Make it more realistic gather up nature material leaves muck conquers –
Long Term- Budget and buy some realistic drawers and shelf’s for outside

Refernces:
Standard 2: Environments “Siolta” [Online], available: http://www.siolta.ie/standards.php [Accessed June 2014]
Standard 6: Play “Siolta” [Online], available: http://www.siolta.ie/standards.php [Accessed June 2014]