6.3 Policies in your setting
Policies at work are often associated with management. In fact, all ELC practitioners have a responsibility to be aware of the policies in place, and they should know that they can influence the way they are written and implemented. This awareness is important, because the policies implemented reflect the ethos of the environment and the aims need to be shared to be successful in practice.
In the following activity you’ll consider the policies related to working with children with ASN and their families in your setting.
Activity 6.3 Policies in your own setting
Take a look at the policies in your setting.
- What are the underlying values and principles that influence your practice?
- How do the policies help you to work with children who require additional support?
Discussion
There is no single correct way of writing policies. Due to the structure of a local authority and where it’s located, each setting will be different. You may have a policy for your setting on how you support children with additional needs or you may find that many of the policies include the needs of children with ASN as a thread that runs through all policies.
Here are some points for you to reflect on in relation to the policies in your setting:
- Do your policies reflect the principles of Scottish Government policy? For example, are there any references to Getting it Right for Every Child?
- Do policies include information about who the Lead Professional is and who is responsible for liaising with other professionals, such as maintaining contact with a local health visiting team?
- Do your policies include information about communicating and working with families in sensitive and supportive ways?
- Are policies re-visited and updated considering new government legislation and policy?
Examining some links between legislation, policy and practice