by Courtney Mackie
I always look forward to the days I am working, as I love my job being an Additional Support Needs (ASN) Childcare Practitioner! I look forward to seeing all of the children and hearing what all they have been up to.
I start my day off by making sure I am prepared for my day, and looking at what we will be doing.
I make sure there are resources out for all age and stage children, and the resources I know they are interested in. For example sensory trays, small world or physical equipment.
I risk assess the room to make sure there are no hazards or risks for anyone before the session starts.
I particularly like sitting down with the children at snack and meal times as I really feel like you get that interaction and conversation with them! It’s a slowed down time of the day just to have a little reflection on things with the children.
During the session I always make sure I am providing care and interacting with the children and giving them my full attention! I always try to encourage the children to help tidy up at the end of the day and praise positive behaviour! Once the day is over I like to have a wind down time and let the children relax by either reading a story, discussing our day and what we liked about it or just having some quiet play time.
When it is pick up time, I find it so important to have that bond with the parents and carers, talking to them positively about their child’s day. If there has been something not so positive about that day I always start with a good thing, followed by the negative and then end it with another positive!
When the day is done I make sure everything is tidy and put away and cleaned. Once that is done any photos or observations that need to be uploaded to each child’s profile will be done, and then it’s time to go home.
