Case Study

Read through the case study carefully and answer the questions.

Max is a 4 year old boy who attends your Childcare Centre.
He is in the preschool room and attends 4 days per week.
Max is an out-going child. Max is severely allergic to peanuts. The childcare centre is a nut-free centre and has policies and procedures in place to ensure this, including an Anaphylaxis Action Plan for Max.
Max's mum has told educators that he has stopped having a sleep during the day. Max tells educators "I don't have a sleep in the day anymore. Do I have to lie down?"

Case Study Questions

Use the above information about Max answer the following questions:

You will also need to access the National Quality Standards, the Education and Care National Regulations and your states approved learning framework for some questions.

1. Sleep, rest & relaxation

a) How would you set up the sleep environment for the children who sleep in the 3-5 room? Consider lighting, noise, temperature and ventilation.

b) Based on Max's mother's recent discussions of his sleep & rest preferences, what quiet play experiences might you offer to Max during the room's sleep and rest routine? Identify one learning outcome and sub-element from your states approved learning framework that supports your response.

c) How will you share information with the children family about rest? Identify at least 3 strategies you could use.

2. Supervise children to ensure safety

You are one of the three educators supervising 25 children, aged 3-5 years, in the outdoor environment.

a) Based on the outdoor environment plan provided where could staff be positioned to ensure effective supervision and that all children are in sight, and explain why you have chosen these positions.
b) During the morning you decide to include water play as an experience. What will you need to consider with regards to supervision?

3. Safe collection of children

The front door bell rings and you let the staff know you will go to the door. A lady is there and states she is here to pick up Max. You have never seen her before. She says her name is Pam, Max's grandmother, who has just arrived from Adelaide for a long weekend.

a) Outline your response to Pam's request and the steps you will take to ensure Max gets home safely. Remember you are responsible for supervising the area outdoors, so include how you will communicate with other educators to ensure adequate supervision of children in this area. (Please list all steps you would carry out, including what you would say to the other educators.)

b) How does your response reflect the Education and Care National Regulations requirement for the ‘collection of children'?

4. Respond to signs of illness

1. Max is sitting quietly outside and you go over to him. You notice that he is breathing heavily, his face looks swollen and he has a rash on his neck.

a) What are these symptoms indicating?

b) How will you respond to Max? What steps need to be taken?
(Please list all steps you would carry out, including who you will communicate with and how you will administer any required medication?).

c) Identify 3 strategies could you implement to minimise the risk of future anaphylactic reactions?

2. During outdoor play you notice a friend of Max's, Pia, sitting quietly. You have previously noticed that there is an Asthma Management Plan on the wall in the staff room. When you go over to her Pia appears to be short of breath and you can hear a whistling sound as she is breathing. You ask her what is wrong and she says she can't breathe properly and her chest is sore.

a) What are these symptoms indicating?

b) How will you respond to Pia? What steps need to be taken?
(Please list all steps you would carry out, including what document you will refer to, who you would communicate with)

5. Nutritional Requirements

As a child care worker at Happy Days Long Day Care Centre you have an important role in promoting healthy eating, food safety and food hygiene habits.

Your centre provides care for seventy (70) children at present, including ten (10) infants aged between six (6) to twelve (12) months and sixty (60) children aged between twelve (12) months to five (5) years.

The cook has developed a two (2) week cycle menu, week one (1) has been approved and accepted although week two (2) is only a draft. The cook has asked you to assist in developing, reviewing and modifying the menu according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, Infant Feeding Guidelines and the Nutrition Checklist for Menu Planning. Ensure the cycle menu provides a nutritious and balanced diet for all of the infants and children at your centre.

This two (2) week cycle menu will then be displayed on the notice board at the centre. All cycle menus are displayed in the centre's monthly newsletter for parents/guardians to view and provide additional advice about their child's dietary requirements, likes, dislikes and any cultural or other requirements families have regarding their child's nutrition.

Task 1
a) Below is the two (2) week cycle menu.

Week one (1) has been completed and can be a used as a guideline for you to follow when reviewing and modifying week two (2). Please adapt/modify the week two (2) menu to meet the needs of the infants and children in your centre. Review, replace or adapt the highlighted food and drink items in the menu with healthier choices (14 modifications). Use your understanding of the Australian Dietary Guidelines, Infant Feeding Guidelines, the five food groups and the healthy living pyramid. Please make the changes a different colour on the menu. On Wednesday of the second week you need to include food options for a child who is vegetarian but able to eat eggs and dairy. Note also that the daily food group count/serves will have to be reviewed and included.

b) Select one National Quality Standard and element and explain how your menu supports this element.
c) Identify three (3) ways you could provide education and support to families around healthy eating.
d) How will you ensure that children have ready access to water between mealtimes?

6. Food Preparation

a) You will prepare a healthy menu item chosen from your completed modified week two (2) cycle menu. This can be a main meal e.g. homemade pizza, dessert e.g. fresh fruit salad and yoghurt or a healthy morning or afternoon tea snack e.g. fresh fruit faces.

Attachment:- Health And Saftey Cluster.rar