Strengths of oral communication:
- Oral communication is easy for children to understand rather than written communication which they may not understand
- Conversations and oral communications make more detailed discussions to clarify issues
- Oral communication allows most misunderstandings to be resolved immediately
- Feelings and emotions can be clearly expressed i.e. tone of voice
- Oral communication is an instant way of communicating unlike written communication where you have to wait a longer period of time for a reply i.e. letters.
Weaknesses of oral communication:
- Young children may not understand what a teacher/carer is saying because they have not fully developed understanding of language and speech
- Some people may not be a confident speaker and rather write letters i.e. f there was a problem with a child a teacher may prefer to write a letter to inform a parent rather than having a discussion where the teacher isn’t confident enough to explain any problems
- There are a few oral communication barriers aswell such as:
- Strong accents
- Different languages
- Understanding someone who may have speech difficulty i.e. Lisps, stutters etc.
- Also is somebody is deaf then they cannot hear what a person is saying to them.
Written Communication
Letters, memos, notes, or anything that is written to communicate with another person is written communication.
The purposes of written communication in early-years settings are:
- Newsletters
- Informational letters to parents
- Classrooms activities written on a whiteboard
- Writing letters
- Store paper based information about the children in the setting
- Record accidents
- Lessons/activities plans
- Recording events that have happened throughout the day
- Record of a child’s academic progress
- Instructions
Strengths of written communication
- Paper based items sent by mail have the advantage of providing a clear, fileable statement this is likely to reach its intended recipient
- Written communications provide clear statements of discussions an their outcome can be recorded and filed
- Some children may learn better from instructions that have been written down rather than being told
- Paper based written communication can always be later referred back to, so that information isn’t forgotten
- Children’s notes/records have been written down therefore can always add more information and be referred back to.
Weaknesses of written communication
- Written documents can be easily lost
- Writing and sending letters can be costly than for example sending an email
- Information can only be added to notes/records, it cannot be changed or deleted
- There are a few written communication barriers such as:
- learning difficulties that may effect a persons spelling or grammar
- if someone can not physically communicate through writing
- if resources aren’t available
Computerised Communication
Electronic mail (email) has proved to be quite a significant form of communication in the recent years. Emails can be both formal and informal.
The purposes of email in early-years settings are:
- Contacting parents
- Records of children’s progress
- Records of children’s personal details
- Contact suppliers i.e. buying toys, or stationary etc.
- Sending lessons/activities plans to other teachers
- Newsletters
- Advertising
- Presenting information
Strengths of computerised communication
- Provides a quick way of interacting
- Answers can be received in a matter of minutes
- Emails aren’t costly or time consuming like written letters that you have to buy stamps and send them through the post
- Records can be changed not only adding information but also deleting and changing
- Saves space by storing information on a computer rather than in filing cabinets
- Most email programmes have spell check allowing people to send emails that are correctly spelt
Weaknesses of computerised communication
- Emails can be lost, therefore the sender has to repeat the process
- Email may not always be seen as a formal way of communicating
- Actions have to be taken to ensure maintaining confidentiality
- Some people may not be confident at using a computer
Special Methods
Within early-years settings careers/teachers need to be prepared to be able to provide communication to children who have special needs where communication is concerned.
There are four main special needs support:
- Makaton
- Sign language
- Interpreters
- Braille
These special needs supports can help children whose special needs include:
- Language difficulty
- Poor eye-sight or blind
- Difficulty in hearing or deafness
Braille
Braille was designed for poor sighted or blind people of a way of communicating. Braille is a series of raised dots that represent the alphabet, and is felt with a finger.
The system offers opportunity for independent reading and writing for poor sighted or blind people as it is based on touch.
Braille can be used in early-years to teach children who are poor sighted or blind to read and write allowing them to join in, in lessons, and activities, such as reading time. Also advertising through posters and leaflets to parents who may also have eyesight problems using Braille.
Makaton
Makaton is used often in early-years settings as a way of communicating with young children who may not fully understand, or the children may use it to show what they may need. Makaton is a large collection of symbols; it uses signs, speech and symbols to communicate to children that may have learning difficulties or a hearing impairment. Makaton also uses a set of established hand movements to convey meaning.
Sign Language
Sign language is being taught to children more within early-years settings, as children find it fascinating and children can pick it up quickly. Sign language is for those with hearing impairments. Sign language is a way of communicating through making signs with the hand. It allows people with hearing impairments to have conversations with others who understand sign language.
Strengths of special methods
- Allows children with special needs to communicate, read and write.
- Such methods as Makaton; children can pick up quickly and easily
- Allows younger children to communicate i.e. show when they are hungry
- If a child can use a special method then they have an equal opportunity to learn as any other child
Weaknesses of special methods
- some teachers/parents may not fully understand some special methods, which could make it difficult for children to make themselves understood and lead to frustration
- care settings may not always supply equipment which allows children to learn special methods
Care values
There are three main care values that are used in health and social settings:
- promoting equality and diversity
- maintaining confidentiality
- promoting individual rights and beliefs
In early years settings the care values from health and social settings are incorporate with the ten care values that apply to early years. These care values are often known as principles.
However in early-years settings there are ten care values, the care values are often known as principles.
Factors that support & inhibit communication
Communication can be affected by a variety of factors. On some occasions, if factors are not supportive then service users can inhibited from effective communication.
Some factors that can influence communication in a positive and negative way are:
- positioning
- emotional factors i.e. fear
- environmental factors
- space
- lighting
- ventilation
- noise
