Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes.
- Identify the support needs of children in school age care
- Evaluate specific support needs of the child and match to any existing experiences in the program
- Use appropriate communication techniques to engage children and to identify specific needs
- Consult with supervisor or other staff about particular needs of children including cultural needs, abilities, and developmental and behavioural needs
- Clarify individual children’s support and guidance needs with the child, family, supervisor and other staff prior to working with child
- Recognise and support sibling relationships where appropriate
- Implement appropriate support and guidance strategies
- Implement strategies to ensure inclusion of children from diverse backgrounds and children with additional needs
- Follow appropriate procedures to minimise effects of aggressive or abusive behaviour in children
- Use age-appropriate approaches and communication to enable children to express their need for support in a range of ways
- Access support from supervisor as required to optimise the child’s participation in school age care
- Determine effectiveness of individual support provided
- Design and implement appropriate processes for the evaluation and review of individual child support needs
- Ensure support provided reflects organisational procedures, industry standards and respect for the child as an individual
- Regularly consult with supervisor, other staff and family to review effectiveness of support provided in school age care
- Monitor and adjust support strategies to include review outcomes
- Regularly review information and support provided to children to assess continuing relevance and effectiveness
- Attend meetings with other staff as appropriate to identify and evaluate school age care service
- Identify and discuss problems experienced in providing support to children and develop alternative strategies in collaboration with supervisor, other staff and family
- Make adjustments and implement alternative support strategies as a result of the review process