Working in an Early Education and Childcare Setting Team Work

When you are working with children it is important to remember that it is unlikely you will be working alone Unless you are working as a childminder you are likely to be working alongside others This will require good teamwork

Team Work Team work is about how you use your skills and qualities to complement those of other people in the team It is about knowing what other people are doing and how you fit into the picture Good team working requires good leadership

Team Work Team working requires Co-operation Understanding of others roles Listening skills Skills of communication

Team Work Teams work best when there is a mutual understanding of the goals they are working towards Teams don’t work when there is not enough direction and people are all pulling in different ways

Team Work Sometimes when we are working as part of a team we have to be prepared to let other colleagues take the lead in doing things At other times we are expected to take the lead Good communication and planning is the secret to good team work with everyone understanding their role, when they are needed to do things, why and how they are expected to do things

Team Work Being prepared to compromise and to discuss any difficulties is also an important feature of team working Accepting that we sometimes need to stand back from a situation and let others take over or that we might need to do something extra for the smooth running of the service is also important.

Team Work Good teams don’t just happen You need to work at it and to make sure by checking that what you are doing is what is required Make sure you develop good working relationships with other team members and with your manager so that you feel comfortable about asking questions.