Background
One of the biggest responsibilities of being an early childhood educator or assistant is knowing how to implement appropriate safety measures and risk management. There are many considerations to keep in mind at the same time, so in preparation, imagine you’re working for a day in the Magic Pudding Early Learning Centre and you are presented with a range of very real, every-day situations to manage.
Brief
For this activity you will work your way through the case scenarios and answer the questions associated with them.
What you need to do
Read each of thefive (5)case scenarios and provide brief answers to each.
Case Scenario One:
A new family is starting today at the Magic Pudding Early Learning Centre. They have two (2) children. Child One: Mia, is an infant who suffers from asthma, triggered by pollen. Child 2: Joshua, 3 years old, is allergic to dairy (anaphylactic). While conducting an orientation you discuss with the family any medical conditions of the children, provide a sample of menu and enquire about any cultural practices.
Scenario One Questions:
1.Looking at a typical menu plan, what foods/meals would Joshua not be able to eat?
SeeAppendix 1for menu plan, food labels and recipe ingredients list.
2.The new parents say that they want the next-door neighbour to collect the children each afternoon. What sort of information would you need to collect from the parents to ensure the right person collects the children?
3.How will you make the rooms safe for Joshua?
4.What practices might you employ to ensure that Mia is safe when attending?
Case Scenario Two:
Millicent is 3 years old. Her parents want you to give her a dose of Augmentin at lunch time because she has a chest infection. They have provided the medication in its original packet with the label as seen below. Millicent is not contagious.
Referring to the forms and label provided, answer each of the following questions.
Scenario Two Questions:
5.Reading both the medical authorisation form and the label, what would you say to the parent’s request? Give at leasttwo (2)reasons for your answer that include how the label does or does not comply with policy.
6.How should this medication be stored?
7.List the people whom it is appropriate to share information with about Millicent’s medication, to ensure that you abide by confidentiality and privacy laws.
HINT:Useful external resource:Medication Administration.
Case Scenario Three:
It's a hot summers day, 11:30am and lunch is winding up. An educator is setting up the 2 to 3-year old’s room. They’re getting out feeding bottles, putting on quiet music, turning the lights off, setting up quiet time activities, like felt boards and painting. They’ve got some of the children setting up their blankets and choosing their comfort items. Some of the children in the room include:
Samira, a 3-year-old, whom for cultural reasons, wears a hijab and heavy cotton clothing from top to toe.
Toby, a 2-year-old, who likes to sleep with his milk bottle.
Benjamin, who is 2.5-years-old, and is afraid of the dark.
Sarah, a 3.5-year-old, who feels the cold and doesn’t like drafts or air-conditioning.
Ashley, who is a shy 3-year-old, that likes to wear her pyjamas to sleep.
Scenario Three Questions:
8.How would you accommodate Samira’s cultural needs and ensure that she doesn’t overheat during sleep time?
9. How could you provide privacy for Ashley to change into her pyjamas?
10.How is the educator providing alternatives for children who don’t want to sleep?
11.What will you do to settle Toby? How will you comply with WHS policies and procedures in this situation?
12.What would you consider if you were supervising this room in terms of safety checks? General environment?
13.What information would you share with parents about their child/s rest and sleep?
Case Scenario Four:
This morning 3-year-old Tessa arrived at the service with her mother, Samina. Samina mentioned that Tessa had a restless night and had been complaining about being ‘itchy’. Samina had already given Tessa 5mls of Pandadol (Paracetamol) at 8am and provided authorisation for a further 5 mls of Panadol to be administered if required.
It’s now 12 pm and Tessa is lying on a cushion. She has not participated in many activities this morning and has spent most of the time reading books. When you go over to see how Tessa is feeling, she starts to cry. Placing your hand on her forehead you notice she feels ‘very warm’. There appears to be some small spots on her hands, which Tessa is now scratching. You decide to take her temperature and the thermometer reads 38.1 degrees.
Scenario Four Questions:
14.What arethree (3)signs Tessa is displaying that indicate she may be unwell?
15.What steps should you take to respond to and manage Tessa's condition for her safety and others?
16.Considering that Tessa is likely contagious, what steps could you take for infection control?
Case Scenario Five:
It’s time to get the children ready in yourroom for outdoor play and it’s a hot day outside. They’re excited and ready to go outside. One of your responsibilities as an educator is to teach sun smart practices.
Just as you’re preparing the children, a contractor comes into the room to change a light bulb.
Before letting the children into the outdoor play area, you realise that a cat has got into the yard. He has used the sand pit for toileting.
Scenario Five Questions:
17.What would you need to check, weather wise, before going outside?
18.Describe what you tell the children to do to prepare themfor outdoor play using thefive (5)S’s for sun smart preparation.
19.What actions would you need to take regarding the contractor to apply safety policies and procedures?
20.What preparation do you need to undertake in the outside play area, before letting the children into it?
What you’re required to submit
To achieve a satisfactory result for this project, you will need to submit the answers to all of the questions in Assessment One.
REMINDER:Before you submit your assessment evidence, please ensure that:
- Your file name includes[your name_the cluster number_assessment name and number]e.g. Jack_Darcy_Cluster 1A, Project1.docx
- You use the same details (Jack_Darcy_Cluster 1A, Project1.docx) in the footer, along with page numbers for Microsoft Word files or include a cover sheet with your details as above for all other file types to identify your work.
Resources you'll need
To help you complete this assessment, you might like to review the following resources:
How long it should take and when it's due
This assessment should take around1 weekto completeand isdue in week 1.
Unit/s of competency:
- CHCECE002 Ensure the health and safety of children
- CHCECE004 Promote and provide health food and drinks