Unit 204 using support

[claremc]

hi i'm new to all this but could need a little help with 204.2

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi and welcome in

All the nvq units can be read as pdfs from cwdc and are good for refering to when online - Level 2 can be accessed through this thread and the search page on here is excellent for seeing what members have already posted - advanced search enter the unit, knowldedge or keywords to help the search.

Level 2, unit 204.2 performance criteria

This is the national standard which you must meet:
1. Take advantage of opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills
2. Identify the new knowledge and skills which will be useful in your work
3. Use support to find out how to use the new knowledge and skills in your work
4. Use the new knowledge and skills to improve your practice

5. Use support to ask for feedback on improvements to your practice

Can you chat with your assessor or think of a time when you went on a course, read through a magazine relevant to your placement/setting or training materials? Went to a particular place - community centre, leisure centre, toy shop, attended an activity session or maybe were able to chat with an organiser, someone from another setting, a professional or parent about their career choice/hobbies, requested a meeting with a manager/leader to discuss things generally, things of concern or formally as part of your group's appraisal system. When your health visitor popped in maybe, the group held a parent's evening or a fundraising event?

These would be times you'd be able to take advantage of opportunities to gain knowledge and new skills - as would owning a library or seasonal zoo ticket the people behind the tickets/bookings are professionals and individuals belonging to networks and I'm sure you'll find will be a great support where ever they can.

To identify the new knowledge and skills is to see what it is you learnt, or what it is you'd like to find out about and then how you think it fits in with what you are already doing.

This could be as small as discovering that darning type needles are available in plastic with blunt ends .. as large as a wheelchair user who can't get into your setting to ask for a prospectus or the completion of a first aid course - the knowledge & new skills mean knowing how to & about performing potentially life saving actions.

Asking before you introduce new ideas/skills and knowledge to your setting is always good - polite - it's also a way to 'ok and checkout what you are thinking and hoping to do, with colleagues and possibly management. They may of experienced similar ideas and have knowledge of what worked at that time, for them. This is one way to use the support around you to see how your knowledge/skills can be used and integrated into the things you all do.

Improving your practice is in part being able to see and understand what you're doing now and what something new means - how far reaching it could be and if you feel it's appropriate.

Ask for feedback from friends, the children, colleagues, visitors, family .. explain and show them what you did, what you were hoping to achieve and see what they felt went well, what could be bettered - ask why and what their experience is.

Don't take criticism personally - use it as a tool to change things for the next time and thoroughly enjoy all positive feedback xx

I hope this helps a little

Enjoy the site