LO 4

1. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
CACHE LEVEL 3
EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR
Unit 1.5 Understand how to
support children who are unwell

2. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Learning outcomes
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in minimising ill
health in children
• Explain how the early years practitioner can minimise ill health in
children
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when supporting
children who are chronically ill
• 8.1 Describe the responsibilities of the early years practitioner when
supporting a child who has a chronic health condition in relation to:
• training and development needs
• partnership working
• inclusive practice
• support for self.

3. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Starter activity
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
Time: 15 mins
• List all the ways to help to minimise ill health?
• How?

4. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
• The practitioner has a professional responsibility to minimise
ill-health in children.
• They should comply with relevant legislation and follow the
policies and procedures of the setting.
• They have a responsibility to meet the needs of the child and
should always be aware of the rights of the child.
• Practitioners have a responsibility to educate children,
provide a good role model and ensure that the environment is
clean and hygienic.
Why the early years practitioner should try to minimise ill-
health in children

5. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
Practitioners have a responsibility to:
• educate children, e.g. on how and when to wash their hands
• provide a good role model, ensuring that you wash your hands after
changing nappies, handling animals and before preparing food
• ensure that the environment is clean and hygienic, always dispose
of waste promptly and appropriately, regularly disinfect toilet areas
• record and report any cases of illness
• ensure that you are doing what you can to prevent cross-infection
• liaise with parents.
How the early years practitioner should try to minimise ill-
health in children

6. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Independent research activity
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
Time: 15 mins
Research what the early years practitioner can do to prevent
infectious diseases and minimise ill health.
Consider:
• Education
• Routines
• Personal hygiene (procedure for changing nappies etc.)
• General hygiene (cleaning equipment etc.)
• Policies and procedures.

7. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Pairs activity
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
Time: 15 mins
• Devise a daily checklist of good practice, including things that
a practitioner should do or look out for in order to minimise ill
health.
• Present your checklist as a poster to put up in the setting as a
reminder to practitioners.
• Ensure that it is eye-catching, colourful and attractive as well
as informative.

8. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when
supporting children who are chronically ill [AC 8.1]
• It is important for a practitioner to know and have an
understanding of the illness of any child that they are working
with. This is especially important for a child with a chronic
health condition.
• The practitioner needs to know the effects of the condition –
will it affect the child’s physical, social, cognitive and
emotional needs? Will it involve prolonged or regular absence
from the setting?
• In order to successfully support the child, and their family, the
practitioner must gain the knowledge that they need.
Training and development needs

9. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when
supporting children who are chronically ill [AC 8.1]
• When working with a child with a chronic health condition it is
likely that the practitioner will be working in partnership with
other professionals.
• It is important that the practitioner develops appropriate
relationships with them. That they share information, make
time to meet with them and respect their opinions and
advice.
• It is the responsibility of the practitioner to listen to and act
on advice that they are given.
Partnership working

10. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Classroom discussion activity
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when
supporting children who are chronically ill [AC 8.1]
Time: 15 mins
• Identify some chronic health conditions that you may
encounter with children that you will work with throughout
your professional life.
• List all the professionals that you may come into contact with
and describe their role.
• Consider the advantages and disadvantages of partnership
working – complete the worksheet provided.

11. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when
supporting children who are chronically ill [AC 8.1]
What is inclusive practice?
• Inclusive practice enables equal access to the curriculum for
all children, regardless of any illnesses or disabilities.
• All children should feel special, accepted and safe. It is
important that they are listened to.
• It is the practitioner’s responsibility to ensure that they
differentiate in order to meet children’s individual needs and
that they plan for and provide relevant resources to enable
children’s learning.
Inclusive practice

12. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Group activity
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when
supporting children who are chronically ill [AC 8.1]
Time: 15 mins
• Discuss the benefits for the child of an inclusive approach –
resources, support staff etc.
• Consider the benefits from the parents’ perspective.
• Consider the benefits for the other children in the setting.
• How do these benefits help the practitioner?
• What responsibilities will the practitioner have to the parents
and the other children as well as to the child?

13. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when
supporting children who are chronically ill [AC 8.1]
When supporting a child who has a chronic health condition, it
can be emotionally, mentally and physically draining.
You will need to ensure that you have support strategies in place.
• Other professionals that you can turn to for advice and
guidance.
• Colleagues who are willing to listen and support you.
• Access to training and courses.
• In extreme cases you may need to talk to a counsellor.
Support for self

14. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Extension activity
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
Time: 15 mins
What can the practitioner do to promote health awareness?
• Plan an activity to promote health awareness – this could be
something to encourage teeth cleaning, awareness of sun
safety or education about how to prevent the spreading of
germs.
• Your activity can be aimed at practitioners, parents or
children.

15. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Reflection activity
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in
minimising ill health in children [AC 4.1]
Time: 15 mins
• Will the time of the year have an impact on infectious
diseases?
• Should settings with a free-flow policy revise this during the
cold, wet wintry months?
• Should the setting take any action during the warm summer
months?
Consider your answers to these questions – why have you
answered as you have?

16. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Learning outcomes
LO4. Understand the role of the early years practitioner in minimising ill
health in children
• Explain how the early years practitioner can minimise ill health in
children
LO8. Understand the role of the early years practitioner when supporting
children who are chronically ill
• 8.1 Describe the responsibilities of the early years practitioner when
supporting a child who has a chronic health condition in relation to:
• training and development needs
• partnership working
• inclusive practice
• support for self.

17. CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Summary: plenary activities
1. Ask your supervisor if you can see any relevant policies – infectious
illnesses, administering medicines, health and safety etc.
2. Highlight all the areas where the practitioner’s responsibilities are
clearly set out.
3. Ensure that you know what your responsibilities are.