Child Development – Helen Moylett

Overview of the day (notes):
Mixture of theoretical & practical inputs & reflective space.

This day will focus on the key factors which support and enable healthy child development within the home and early childhood settings. It will set the stage for the trainees to undertake a detailed child study and provide an analytical framework to document and evaluate the study child’s developmental profile and the contextual/ecological conditions in which the development took place, both in the home and in wider settings.  It will also explore the ethical issues involved in conducting a child study and a teacher will input on the practicalities of undertaking this activity.

Session 1: Methods for documenting and evaluating a child’s developmental profile
Session 2: Methods for documenting and evaluating the ecological context of a child
Sessions 3: Identifying multiagency sources of information about a child’s development
Session 4: Ethical issues in documenting and reporting a child study

Also including inputs from:

Learning Objectives:
• To enhance understanding of how to conduct a child study

• To extend skills in documenting and evaluating a child’s developmental profile and a child’s ecological context
• To enhance capacity to work with parents, children and multiagency professionals to gather information for a child study
• To extend skills in documenting, evaluating and reporting a child study, securing ethical permissions and feedback protocols
• To set an agenda of reading, reflection and actions for further development in conducting a child study

Gap task to follow up (from last session):
1. Observe, document and evaluate the nature and extent of children’s voice and agency within your home setting
2. Locate, read and critique Formosinho and Pascal/ Bertram’s chapter on holistic and solidary pedagogy

Gap task to set (for this session):
1. Read literature on conducting a child study
2. Complete and submit an ethical approval form for the child study
3. Trial methods for collecting evidence for a child study eg interviews, observations, digital imaging, documentary and child outcomes data analysis

Teaching standard(s) to be met in this session:
#2: Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils
#5: Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils
#6: Make accurate and productive use of assessment

National priorities to be met in this session:
Special educational needs and disability

Reading:
Susan Isaacs