Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competency 1: Advocating for young children’s rights and participation

This chapter will begin by discussing the different aspects of Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competency (GPC) 1: advocacy, children’s rights and participation. Once the competency has been explored several case studies will be presented. The first case study presents the insights of a Level 5 student undertaking an Early Childhood Studies degree. The student has shared an experience from placement and demonstrates how placement can help you to achieve GPC 1. The second case study presents the insights of a leader from an early years setting and an example of what level 6 practice involves when considering children’s rights in day to day decisions. The final case study presents the insights of a practice educator from the University of Wolverhampton whose role it is to visit, support and assess ECS students undertaking the ECGPCs. Following each case study is a discussion and reflection of how it may be linked to the different evidence points of Competency 1. There is then a section recognising the wider dimensions of Competency 1 which are not addressed in the case studies. Finally, a summary of the chapter is provided with reflective questions.