Elements and Performance Criteria

Children having additional needs may include needs due to:
Language difficulties
Physical, sensory or developmental disability
Health problems
Behavioural or psychological disorders
Family circumstances and needs
A child recently arrived in Australia from a very different culture
A child whose culture is different from the culture
of the centre
Child at risk
Unknown diagnosis
Known diagnosis
Cultural / religious practices
Communication difficulties
Giftedness

Communication difficulties of a child may be due to:
Trauma, violence and crises
Disabilities e.g. Hearing, visual, speaking
Health problems and disorders
Learning problems
Deprivation of sensory stimulation

Specialist resources may include:
Professionals with expertise about particular needs of children
Written information
Special equipment
Information and education videos
Resource networks
Family members
Bilingual workers
Interpreter services
Resource units
Extra staffing

Additional resources may include:
Worker training
Toy libraries

Review of current program could include:
Review for child with additional needs
Review of strategies for meeting needs of child within context of whole group

Critical aspects of assessment:
Demonstrated ability to develop programs which meet additional needs of children

Interdependent assessment of units:

This unit should be assessed with:

CHCIC12A Plan the inclusion of children with additional needs or
CHCSD11A Facilitate the inclusion of children with additional needs

Essential knowledge:
Inclusion, non-discriminatory practices and associated legislation
Knowledge of child development - build on strengths of child
Organisational standards, policies and procedures

Essential skills and attitudes:
Observation
Communication skills
Consultative skills
Local community resources
Respect for family expectations and desired outcomes for child
Planning

Resources:
Assessment requires access to a range of opportunities defined in the Range Statement. This includes: a childcare workplace, access to Children's services resources and equipment, access to the local environment

Context of assessment:
This unit could be assessed either on the job or off the job through an appropriate workplace simulation for a range of age groups and a range of conditions over a number of assessment situations