SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Provide care for babies, toddlers and young children 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
244469  Provide care for babies, toddlers and young children 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Early Childhood Development 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 05 - Education, Training and Development Early Childhood Development 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is for people who wish to enter or obtain recognition at an entry level of Early Childhood Development (ECD).

People credited with this Unit Standard are capable of:
  • Providing a safe and healthy environment to prevent and reduce injuries and illness.
  • Promoting and maintaining optimal health and nutrition for caregivers and children.
  • Promoting the rights of children.
  • Managing routines and transitions. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in Communication at NQF Level 3 or equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    "Care" refers to nutrition, safety and health.

    The learner must demonstrate practical care for either babies/toddlers or young children, and explain how they would have approached it differently had they been working with the other age-group e.g. there are differences in safety issues for babies as opposed to older children; as well as differences in safety issues for individuals versus groups. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Provide a safe and healthy environment to prevent and reduce injuries and illness. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Legal implications of providing responsible care are identified, with particular reference to public liability issues and related responsibilities of care-givers. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Recorded history of monitoring and reporting.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Environmental hazards are identified and explained in terms of their potential impact on the safety of children. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Identification of potential indoor and outdoor health and safety hazards within each of the following categories:
  • Burns; cuts and lacerations; unprotected water sources; poisoning, choking and strangulation; falls; electricity; traffic issues, animals.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Environmental hazards are identified and explained in terms of their potential impact on the health of children. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Hazards include but are not limited to polluted water sources, poisoning (including lead), radiation (cell phone masts), animals, parasites (worms), food deprivation, food contamination, medicines.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Strategies for preventing and/or correcting safety hazards in the environment are identified and implemented, thus ensuring a safe environment as per the ages and stages of the children. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Strategies for preventing and/or correcting health hazards in the environment are identified and implemented, thus ensuring a safe environment as per the ages and stages of the children. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Ensuring prevention according to categories of disease transmission.
  • Categories of disease transmission include oral-faecal, blood, respiratory (air borne), contact, etc.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Written Health & Safety records are maintained to accurately reflect strategies and actions taken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Contact lists of available emergency services and parents/guardians are accurate and easily accessible. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Emergency plans, procedures and equipment are ensured to be available, appropriate to the given emergencies, and can be understood by all the adults and children. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Emergency plans for fire, public violence, natural disasters.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Supervision of children is appropriate to their developmental level and the degree of potential risk involved. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Supervision of children within the scope of hearing or vision, indoor, outdoor and outing supervision.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Promote and maintain optimal health and nutrition for caregivers and children. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Health and nutrition includes but is not limited to feeding, growth monitoring, training, making a menu, food gardens, isolating children with infections, monitoring children, carrying out health checks, taking universal precautions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Child health is monitored and instruments are correctly interpreted and integrated into practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Health monitoring instruments refer to the "Road to Health Card" which is held by the family.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Awareness and implementation of Workplace Health Policies and Guidelines is explained in terms of maintaining staff health. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Maintenance of health includes but is not limited to immunization, back-care- lifting heavy objects, HIV and AIDS, exclusion due to specific illnesses.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Common childhood diseases and infections are described in terms of their symptoms and transmission, as well as possible effects on individuals and/or groups. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Disease include acute and chronic illnesses.
  • Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI).
  • Childhood disease symptoms include but is not limited to rashes (including genitalia), elevated temperature, unusual irritability, lethargy, prolonged loss of appetite, diarrhoea, coughing and nasal/other discharges, respiratory rates, sores that will not heal; multiple skin eruptions, swollen glands and sore throat, ear-ache.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Responses to illness are appropriate to the nature of the illness. Children presenting symptoms of common infectious diseases are referred to qualified Health Practitioners. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Notifiable diseases are reported by Health Practitioners to the Department of Health (DoH).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Actions and communication responding to the holistic needs of children are dealt with in a non-discriminatory and confidential manner, taking into consideration the child's socio-cultural context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Responses to injuries and emergencies are appropriate to the given situation and in line with emergency procedures and first aid practice. Conditions outside of scope of competence are referred to the appropriate authorities without delay. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Injuries and emergencies include but are not limited to seizures, asthmatic attacks, minor injuries, fractures, choking, biting, burns, universal precautions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Records reflect up-to-date and accurate accounts of health history, regular checks and monitoring activities, medications, actions taken, accidents and incidents. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Records are recorded on an incident report form, log book or daily journal as required.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Medication is administered only with written consent from parent/guardian and in line with instructions. Consequences of incorrect application of medicines are described with reference to the wellbeing of the child, and possible legal consequences of negligence. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Control includes but is not limited to maintenance of health records, scheduled administration of medicines, secure storage of medicines.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    General precautions are identified and applied consistently to promote general health and welfare of children and adults. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Precautions include but are not limited to clean and appropriate clothing; balanced nutrition; personal hygiene routines, Universal precautions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    Nutritional needs of children are provided for in relation to their age, special dietary requirements and cultural preferences, while ensuring balanced meals. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The nutritional needs could be provided for in a number of ways, for example by providing guidance to parents on menus, by arranging meals where possible or applicable, or by preparing food. Practitioners will have access to nutrition guidelines.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
    Nutrition advice and guidelines provided to children and adults promotes good nutrition and serves to encourage them to promote their own good health. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Promote and protect the rights of children. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The following documents provide a basis for this outcome:
  • International conventions: United Nations Convention on Rights and Welfare of the Child; African Charter on Rights of the Child, current Children's legislation including regulations; Child Care Act and Regulations; South Africa Constitution 1996, Department of Social Development minimum norms and standards for Early Childhood Development Services, Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Education provided to children concerning child rights is consistent with current legislation and regulations and is appropriate for the stage of development of the children. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Violations of child rights are correctly identified and reported according to given procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Child monitoring is provided continuously and is sufficient to promote the safety of children. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Safety includes but is not limited to keeping strangers out, controlling who takes children home, not leaving children outside centre unsupervised, making sure children are not locked into centres, and where appropriate, the transportation of children.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Opportunities are used to educate parents about ways of protecting children. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Education includes understanding the rights of the child.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Manage routines and transitions. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
  • Routines refer to arrival, departure, meals, toilet, resting, house-keeping (washing, cleaning up, putting away, tidying up), sleeping, and self-help skills according to ages and stages.
  • Transitions refer to shifting or moving from activity to activity, from location to location, or from person to person. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Routines are sufficiently flexible to cater for the individual needs of children. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Routines implemented are sensitive to individual needs and are consistent with child rights. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Routines and transitions extend learning and are managed in a way that promotes independence, participation and an understanding of the days progress/sequence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Routines and transitions are managed in a way that builds relationships and trust between children and between children and adults. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Routines are managed at a level that is appropriate for the level of development of the different children. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Routines are integrated as far as possible into activities, with sufficient opportunity for children to obtain a feeling of competence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Information on babies, toddlers and young children is recorded on a daily basis. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Information includes but is not limited to sleeping, feeding, elimination (nappies & potties).
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • This Unit Standard will be assessed by an assessor and moderated by a moderator, registered with the relevant accredited ETQA responsible for the quality assurance of this Unit Standard.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider through the appropriate quality assuring ETQA, or Learning Programme approval with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the quality assuring ETQA.
  • Verification (external moderation) of assessment and moderation by the provider, will be conducted by the relevant quality assuring ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant Qualification and the agreed ETQA policy and procedures.
  • An individual wishing to be assessed through RPL against this Unit Standard, may apply to an assessment agency or provider institution accredited by the relevant quality assuring ETQA, or by an ETQA that has a formal agreement/accreditation with the relevant quality assuring ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following areas of knowledge are embedded within the Unit Standard, and will be assessed directly via assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the given assessment criteria:
  • Childhood illnesses.
  • Nutrition.
  • Rights of Children.
  • Policy and legislation related to health, safety and hygiene.
  • Awareness of public liability. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems related to health, hygiene and safety. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively in the promotion of safety, health and hygiene and the prevention of illness. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information regarding child illnesses and issues related to the safety and hygiene of the environment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with children, adults and health practitioners regarding health, hygiene and safety. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Glossary:

    Activities - refer to the active involvement of babies, toddlers and young children with a range of resources, materials and actions that contribute towards their development. This includes routine-based and play-based activities.

    Babies, toddlers and young children:
  • Babies - refers to an approximate range of 0-12 months, taking into account individual variations in development.
  • Toddlers - refers to an approximate range of 12-30 months, taking into account individual variations in development.
  • Young children - refers to an approximate range of 30 months to 5 years old, taking into account individual variations in development.

    Developmentally appropriate although it is accepted that there are multiple and contested ways in which the term may be used and understood, at its heart, "developmentally appropriate" is intended to convey the sense that children do develop in recognisable ways, even if at different rates and in line with different models of development. Hence, we may speak of something being developmentally appropriate if it meets the developmental needs of babies, toddlers and young children, supported by justifiable theories will inform the programme.

    Early Childhood Development (ECD) Service - the care, facilitation, observation, reporting and working with families and others in a variety of settings for the development of babies, toddlers and young children.

    Early Childhood Development (ECD) Settings - to any place where a child is or children are, including but not limited to Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, institutions such as prisons and hospitals, and at home.

    Facilitate - means the use of a range of activities, all of which combine in various ways to contribute to the holistic development of babies, toddlers and young children.

    Framework - guidelines to outline the range of Early Childhood Development (ECD) services, programmes and legal, health and social practices.

    Inclusion - the inclusion of all children including those with special needs.

    Programme - refers to the routines or schedules that spell out the sequence of daily and weekly events. The schedules may be very loose or highly structured depending on context and preference. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58761   Further Education and Training Certificate: Early Childhood Development  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  ETDP SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. ABM COLLEGE SA (PTY) LTD 
    2. Axolemahle Business Enterprise 
    3. Damelin Correspondence College (Pty) Ltd 
    4. Dynamic Safety Solutions 
    5. FURNITURE WORLD TRAINING CENTRE 
    6. Ikamva Projects Pty Ltd 
    7. KDS Centre for Skills Development and Training Pty Ltd 
    8. Lehlabile Emergency Institute 
    9. Lionsden Africa Business Solutions Pty Ltd 
    10. Mabidi Funzani Trading And Projects Pty Ltd 
    11. MacMillan South Africa (Pty) Ltd 
    12. Masakhane Training and Consultant Pty Ltd 
    13. NC COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS 
    14. Ntiyiso Training and Skills Consultancy 
    15. PHALANE SAFETY CONSULTANT AND TRAINING PROVIDERS PTY LTD 
    16. PNJ TRAINING ACADEMY NPC 
    17. Sunshine Community Outreach Ministry of Youth With A Mission 
    18. Tokelo Training Intervention in ECD 
    19. Tshepo Hope Consulting 
    20. Twilight Lehlabile Construction Pty Ltd 
    21. UMO LEARNING SUPPORT SYSTEM 
    22. VUWA PROJECTS 
    23. WESTERN COLLEGE FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.