1.1 Explain why effective communication is important in developing positive relationships with CYP & adults.
Effective, clear communication is essential in every surrounding and situation but even more so in a learning environment. If I cannot explain to a pupil or an adult exactly what I am expecting from them, what I want them to accomplish, they are going to feel frustrated and unhappy, which is not a positive environment for anything.
I can think of a number of reasons why the lack of effective communication could be problematic when I am at school working with young pupils, and with colleagues that are my age or older. Being clear when you speak, being at the same eye level, and knowing how to listen, are all skills I have had to work on especially since English is not my first language. When I work with Reception pupils, I have noticed that as long as I have explained the activity we are doing in a simple way, and made sure they have understood what is expected of them by asking questions, they will work hard and try to finish their task. I have found it very important to make them feel at ease around me, and now that they see me more often, they have become more used to my accent, and this applies to the adults I work with as well. I think that regardless of who I am addressing when I speak, I must remain approachable and open, by the tone I use and my body language.
1.2 Explain the principles of relationship building with CYP & adults (This should include examples from your own professional experiences of developing relationships with eg new pupils, new staff & other professionals)
I believe the principles of relationship building with people of any age or backround are in essence the same; being respectful no matter who you are speaking to, listening to the other person, being clear in what is said by using vocabulary that is suitable for the age of the person we are addressing, showing interest and concern for them, along with being kind and using the appropriate body language and tone of voice. These are all basic things we have to think of when we are trying to build a relationship with a child, a young person or an adult, they are all part of good communication, which is essential for building positive relationships and avoiding misunderstandings and disagreements.
I come in contact with many people at the school where I work throughout the day. I feel I have to work harder when I communicate perhaps because sometimes I don't understand people fully or feel they don't understand what I am saying either but it doesn't mean that I can't communicate effectively. I make sure by saying things in a different way or using more body language and gestures that I am being understood. I joke about it, about my accent and sounding different to lighten up the mood, and because I work with the youngest pupils at lunchtime (2 and 3 year old), I make a point of trying to smile and be very kind because I think they might struggle to understand what I say, and since everything is new to them, I feel being able to make them smile helps them have a better time at school, and be more open to learning all these new things.
When I get given instructions by the teacher I help, for example, I double check that I understand correctly both what is expected from me and from the pupils I help. It works the same way when I explain to the pupils what the activity we are doing is about and I give them instructions on what to do.
When I first started working as a TA, I used to get a little upset when the teacher or Teaching Assistants asked me to do things for them like get equipment out or fetch materials for them because I felt they expected me to know where things were and how things worked until I realised that if I didn't ask or if I didn't tell them that I didn't know where to find things, well they couldn't know that I didn't know! I needed