Section 1: Common Childhood Illnesses

You are required to demonstrate your awareness and understanding of common childhood illnesses.

All the headings below must be included in this section

1.  Outline the causes of illness and infection spread in the Childcare setting.
2. Outline 5 common childhood illnesses to include:

• Overview of the condition
• How the condition can spread
• Incubation period

     3. Outline best practice to prevent the spread of infection.

4. Give the recommended procedure when a child becomes unwell at the setting.

Research documents for this task will be found in your Supplementary Reading- Management of Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings, Quality Regulatory Framework in addition to Course Notes.

Section 2: Early Childhood Immunisations 

You are required to demonstrate your understanding of the importance of immunisations on a child’s well-being. Refer to HSE’s most recent guidelines

All the headings below must be included in this section

1. Give an understanding of the importance of immunisations on a child’s well-being.
2. Described what a vaccine is and the benefits of vaccines.
3. Outline the possible side effects of vaccines.
4. Outline the recommended Immunisation Schedule for 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 13 months

Research documents for this task will be found in your Supplementary Reading -Immunisation Schedule, Management of Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings, Quality Regulatory Framework in addition to Course Notes.

Section 3: Policies and Procedures in Preschools

You are required to demonstrate your understanding of the importance of policies and procedures in Early Childhood Settings. You are looking at this section from a service perspective using guidance from Tusla and the Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016.

All the headings below must be included in this section

1. Outline the importance and value of developing policies and procedures in an Early Childhood Setting and the importance of such policies and procedures to the health and well-being of children who attend the service.
2. List 10 mandatory policies and procedures that must be developed in order to operate a safe childcare service.
3. Develop an outings/ excursion policy for an ECCE setting using the Quality Regulatory Framework guidelines (It would be useful to examine your service’s policies and procedures to get ideas on developing a policy; however, you cannot just submit the setting’s policy).
4. Using best practice guidance from Children First Guidelines 2017, describe the steps you would take as a Childcare Practitioner should a child make a disclosure of abuse to you.

Research documents for this task will be found in your supplementary reading – Children First National Guidance 2017, Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, Quality Regulatory Framework in addition to your Course Notes.   

Section 4. Healthy Eating and Planning Menus for children.                   

You are required to demonstrate your awareness and understanding of the nutritional needs of preschool aged children. You should consider the importance of a nutritionally balanced diet and the importance of a healthy eating policy within a setting and the requirements imposed on a childcare setting with regard to the preschool regulations and HSE guidelines.

All the headings below must be included in this section

3. Outline issues to consider when planning healthy and varied meals and snacks for children aged 2-5 years – refer to best practice.
4. Outline Children’s food requirements in the Food and Nutrition Guidelines for preschools when children are attending:
   1. Full Day Care Over 5 hours
   2. Half Day Care up to 5 hours
   3. Sessional Day Care up to 3.5 hours
5. Develop daily menus for a full-time day-care service for children aged 2-5 years over a 5-day period to include:

‘Breakfast -Morning Snack – Lunch -Afternoon snack – Dinner -Evening snack’.

Sample Menu format (1mark each menu)

Age of Child/Children

4.Recommend two established healthy eating initiatives for best practice for schools and preschool services to share with parents give a short description of each.

Research documents for this task will be found in your supplementary reading –Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Preschools, Menu Plan for Preschools, Quality Regulatory Framework in addition to Chapter Notes.