Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Within an early childhood eduction and care service, an educator may experience children and families with a range of identified additional needs ( requiring specific considerations). Additional needs encompass a diverse spectrum of characteristics, varying according to each individual child and family. These additional needs may require further consideration by the educator to support the full inclusion of the child and to ensure their special rights are met.
For each category listed below you will be required to provide an example of an additional need relevant to each category. Within you example you will need to provide a brief explanation of the additional need and how you could support access and participation with the early learning environment
1. Behavioural or psychological disorder
2. children at risk of harm
3. Family circumstance and needs
4. Health and
5. Physical, sensory or developmental disability

What I have so far
1. A psychological disorder, also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and/or create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. The way I can support this in early childhood education and care service is by working along the child and setting up experiences that they are interested in
2. children at risk of harm- is known as when young children are at a risk of abuse, harm or neglect. They way I would support this in childcare would be by reporting it to child protection and listen to the child and comfort the child when needed
3. Most families are vulnerable at some stage, and some difficulties can affect children into adulthood. For example, research shows that emotional and behavioural difficulties early in life can be linked to behaviour problems – such as poor academic performance, relationship problems and crime – in adolescence and adulthood. I would support this by following there concern or needs up with the center director
4. Health- It is known for the body and mind it is important to have a good healthy diet. I would provide the children with healthy food choices
5. Developmental Disability means a disability that is manifested before the person reaches twenty-two (22) years of age, which constitutes a substantial disability to the affected individual, and is attributable to mental retardation or related conditions which include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or other neurological conditions when such conditions result in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with mental retardation. I would work along side the family and child and help them as much as I can

Thanks could you please give me a example of what I should be writing thankyou

Behavioural or psychological disorder-
The example that I am using is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) it is a medical condition where children act before they think, have trouble focusing and can’t sit still a lot of the time. At the early education and care service I was reading the children a book at meeting time and a boy in my room that has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder didn’t sit still while I was reading the story to the children. The boy kept moving his upper body forward and back, making load noises while moving his head side to side and his arms backward and forward.
The way I could support access and participate is by working collaborative with the family and health professionals to develop a behaviour management plan which can make the behaviour easier to handle, keep instructions simple, short and clear this helps the child to understand it better and the educators should work closely with the child to minimize visual distractions.

Is this alright am I on track

Thank you, I am just suck on this one children at risk of harm. I am not sure what additional need I should be writing for this I have researched but still unsure could you please direct me in the right direction for this one?

Thanks and I am a bit unsure of Family circumstance and needs Health, I am not sure what additional needs I should be writing for them both I have research but I can't find anything

Is the family circumstance and needs be something like a death in the family or the parents separated?

is rhe Family circumstance and needs something like a death in the family or parents separated?

I was just wondering if this was on the right track for children at risk of harm

The example that I am using is emotional abuse it is anything that seriously hurts a child mentally or emotionally. This could include being exposed to constant put downs and verbal attacks, responds rejection or violence in the home. At the early education and care service there is a girl in my room which her parents argue and disrespect each other at her centre environment and I am suspecting this is happening in her home environment as well. When the girl comes to the early education and care service she sits on the couch everyday feeling alone, not loved or trust in anyone and this has destroy the child self-esteem. The way I could support access and participate is by finding out what is happen, if it is happening in her home environment as well and the steps need to be taken to protect the child. Since I am seeing her parents argue and disrespect each other at the early childhood education and care and by contacting child protection advisor which will give me more detail on how to deal with the situation. The educators should try able build a trusting relationship with the child so that the child may feel loved overtime.

Family circumstance and needs reflect the child's situation, what' going on in their Liv that may not be the normal occurrence, thus interrupts the child's behaviour and everyday actions. For example a child whose father has been deployed overseas would be a family circumstance and the need would be for you to offer reassurance and stability to this child to reaffirm his position in his world and let him know everything will be ok. You could go further and introduce a Skype type set up in home corner (a box like a computer monitor but a big square hole and kids can pretend to Skype each other, or do a special art piece to send to his Dad.
Hope this helps

Thanks that helps heaps and I was just wondering about the help one?

thanks that heaps heaps I was just wondering about the health one?

Sorry, I'm a Newby, I did see the first page... Lol... Makes kore sense now lol

Have you got any idea on the health one?

If it was me I'd read up more on the health surrounding the age group you are targeting, then identify an additional need (allergy to a certain food, a form of disability etc...) and relate how you can help the child feel included in her class not excluded by her additional need.

Sometimes they just need to ask the questions more simply, you would have nailed this one if they didn't dance around with fancy words

Does that help?