1. Child Observation Chapter 3

2. Chapter Outline • Introduction • Principles of good practice • Description of FETAC level 5 Child Development (D20005) assessment requirements • Observations methods • Writing up single observations • The child study • Revision questions

3. Reasons for Observing Children • To understand where children are at in terms of their physical, intellectual (cognitive), language, emotional development so that the activities planned are developmentally appropriate yet challenging for them • To have a record of children’s progress for parents or other professionals as may be required • To be informed about individual children’s developmental progress, perhaps identifying signs of developmental delay that may require further investigation • To observe children exhibiting problem behaviour, to investigate frequency, possible triggers and how staff are responding to the behaviour

4. Principles of Good Practice • Confidentiality • Accurate description • Objectivity

5. FETAC level 5 Child Development (D20005) portfolio of Assessment • 1. Collection of work – worth 40% of your final mark for the module • 2. Assignment (often called the child study) – worth 30% of your final mark for the module • 3. Examination – worth 30% of your final mark for the module • See next three slides for descriptions

6. 1. Collection of Work • the collection will include 5 observations • each observation must address one of the five areas of development - (PILES) • Physical • Intellectual • Language • Social and Emotional • must submit at least one observation from each the following age groups: • 0-1 years • 1-3 years • 3-6 years (remaining two observations can be from any of these age groups) • you should use a variety of different observation methods

7. 2. Assignment (child study) • One child is chosen and 5 separate observations are carried out with this one child • One observation is carried out on each of the 5 areas of development – • Physical • Intellectual • Language • Social • Emotional • An overall evaluation is carried out

8. 3. Examination • The examination is 1½ hours long and tests candidates on all aspects of the course • Section A – • 12 short questions, must answer 10 • Section B – • 3 structured (long) questions, must answer 2

9. Observation Methods • Narrative • Pre-coded • Checklist • Time sample • Event sample • Movement or flow charts • Tables, pie charts and bar charts • Using audio or video recordings during observations

10. Description of Methods • Please see textbook pages 42 to 51 for detailed description of methods

11. Writing up observations • When writing up observations (including the 5 single observations required by the FETAC level 5 Child Development module) it is advisable to follow a clear and structured format • This ensures that both the writer of the observation and its readers are clear about • (a) who is being observed • (b) why are they being observed • (c) where they are being observed • (d) what information the observation has gathered and what it means • Suggested headings are given on next slide with more detailed descriptions of each heading on page 51 of textbook

12. Suggested Headings • Aim of observation • Rationale • Method used • Media used • The observation itself • The evaluation • Personal learning gained • References and bibliography • Recommendations (a requirement for FETAC for level 6) • Signatures (3) • All observations should have a signed observation brief to the front. • Title of observation • Date • Time observation started and finished • Number of children present • Number of adults present • Permission obtained from • Description of setting • Immediate context • Brief description of the child observed

13. Child Study • At level 5 the child study is composed of 5 different sections or parts: • Proposal • Five Observations • Overall Evaluation • Critical Evaluation • References and Bibliography For details please see page 54 of textbook

14. Revision questions • Give 4 reasons why child observations are carried out in childcare settings • In relation to child observations: (a) what is confidentiality (b) why is it important (c) how can childcare workers protect children’s confidentiality? • What is meant by the term objectivity in relation to child observations? • Name and describe 4 different observation methods