School Of EducationEarly Child Pedagogy: Planning for Young Children with Special NeedsWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 20038.1
Discipline: TEACHER EDUCATION: EARLY CHILDHOOD
Student Contribution Band: NP
Level: 3
Credit Points: 10
Prerequisite
20003 The Developing Child: Early Years to Adolescence
About this Unit
This unit consolidates and extends students' knowledge and understanding of early childhood development. The unit examines the attitudes, knowledge and skills early childhood teachers need when including children with special needs in early childhood settings. A non-categorical approach to teaching and teaching strategies, which helps in successfully including all children is emphasised. Curriculum and program planning are applied to the needs of children with individual differences. The principles of normalisation within an educational context, and the implications of inclusion for the needs of the child, family and community are explored. A multidisciplinary approach to programming is studied. Students examine current theories of individualising family involvement. The importance of socio-cultural contexts and an ecological framework is stressed. Early childhood curricula are designed to meet the total needs of children with a range of differences in skills and potential. Integrating early childhood education and special education is an underlying principle of the unit. Principles and practicalities of program planning, and implementing and integrating curriculum content are examined with particular regard to differentiation for all children.