How to establish respectful, professional relationships with children
To build relationships with children and young people I need to adapt my behaviour and communication to be in line with their age and understanding. I need to show them that I am fair trustworthy caring. Also being positive and happy, being aware of my body language and facial expressions when talking to children, has a massive impact on the relationships I build with pupils. Showing them that their views and ideas are just as valuable as mine or yours, and they are a valued member of the school community, all of the above is established over a short period of time after establishing ground rules and mutual respect.
Appropriate behaviour for a child or young person’s stage of development
I need to ensure that when I am communicating with children that I take into consideration their stage of development. Children of different needs and ages will need varying levels of attention and support according to their needs and the amount of time they can concentrate.
Pupils in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 – These pupils are still very young and are still developing their communication and language skills. When speaking to a child in these stages I should get down to their level so I am not towering above them, as this can be scary for some children. They may frequently need reminding about the importance of listening to others and taking turns to speak. I need to be very clear and check their understanding after I have spoken to them, by asking them to repeat back what I said. Children at this stage also find it hard to manage change or times of excitement; preparations for these times should be put in place, as their behaviour may become erratic.
Pupils in Key Stage 2 – When children go into Key Stage 2 they may be starting to mature in the way in which they communicate. They will be more used to the formalities