Alex ECD practitioners invited to Soweto course at Funda Community College

Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners in Alexandra have an opportunity to attend a course designed to equip them with the requisite skills that can help them in their endeavour to mould, nurture and produce school-ready toddlers.

The course, to be conducted by experienced Molteno trainers, will take place at the Funda Community College in Soweto and interested Alex ECD practitioners can either travel to the college or tutorials can be arranged.

Before the start of the course, which is expected in early February, there will be a five-day orientation which practitioners will undergo. Their levels of knowledge and experience will be assessed and their eligibility to work with children will be determined.

Theoretical training happens for 10 months with tutoring taking place on Saturdays and during school holidays. After completing each module, students will undergo practical training where they will shadow a highly experienced ECD practitioner in a preschool/creche environment.

This experiential training gives them a great opportunity to put what they’ve learnt into practice. Through this comprehensive course, practitioners will gain a variety of knowledge such as planning and preparing various ECD interventions, providing care and support for babies, toddlers and young children as well as facilitating and monitoring their development.

Practitioners will also gain knowledge to develop children’s motor skills and learn to organise play activities that develop their emotional intelligence in various ways such as teaching them to control their emotions and express their feelings appropriately.

Children will also gain various social skills through these play activities such as learning the importance of sharing with friends. The course will enable practitioners to teach life skills as well as elementary maths, literacy and pre-literacy skills.

In addition to these learnings, students will be taught to work more effectively with parents in numerous ways, for example, encouraging them to reinforce what the child learns in class, at home. Practitioners will learn to observe and assess children to determine whether they have any sight, hearing or other difficulties – while encouraging parents to do the same – so problems are promptly diagnosed, discussed and resolved or referred.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an Occupational Certificate in Early Childhood Development, NQF Level 4 SAQA ID 97542. They will be qualified to teach children in pre-Grade R and will receive 131 credits, which enables them to register for an ECD diploma.

Those interested can register before 31 January next year by visiting: www.molteno.co.za

Details: Precious Khoza 011 484 6245; precious@molteno.co.za