ACECQA Newsletter Issue 8 2016

Why are we so afraid to march to the beat of our own drum?

This month on We Hear You, Meghan Woods, an early childhood teacher and member of the Educational Leadership Working Group at Gumnut Cottage, located on the campus of Macquarie University in Sydney, reflects on the important role of a service’s philosophy and the key issue that might be driving practice in early childhood education and care services across Australia.

NQF Snapshot shows education and care sector growth and continuous improvement

Australia’s education and care sector continues to grow and quality improvement is taking place under the National Quality Standard (NQS), according to new data in the latest Snapshot report. 

The performance of services in reassessment is particularly pleasing, with two-thirds of services receiving a higher overall quality rating. With so many reassessed services receiving a higher rating, there is evidence to suggest the National Quality Framework is working as intended, driving quality and continuous improvement.

This means that families with children entering education and care for the first time can know they are entering a sector that encourages services to improve their programs and practices, providing children with quality experiences early in life that can lead to better health, education and employment outcomes later in life.

With 80% of services assessed and rated, the Snapshot gives a clearer understanding of which areas of the NQS services perform well against, as well as those they find more challenging.

An interactive online version of the NQF Snapshot is available for users to sort and search for information, along with an Excel workbook that includes additional assessment and rating data.

First impressions count

When we think about establishing strong, collaborative relationships with families and parents who are new to your service, it can be the first impressions that count. 

What strategies are used at your service to help all families feel welcome and accepted to build a sense of belonging? Does your service acknowledge and value the diversity of the family backgrounds and compositions?

All families are different; children have diverse understandings of what makes up a ‘family’ and the relationships with the people who are most important in their lives.

As the primary influence, families have strong beliefs and values about the education and care of their children. Quality Area 6 of the National Quality Standard (NQS) reflects the importance of these relationships and collaborations, with Standard 6.1 emphasising a welcoming environment and orientation process, and Element 6.1.2 stressing the involvement and contribution of families to the service.          

First impressions are the initial building blocks to developing connections and trust with parents and families. Creating a welcoming environment will put families at ease, as will open communication and an engagement that respects cultural identity and diversity. Providing a physical environment and spaces that support opportunities for families to actively contribute and discuss the service, the program and their children’s experiences are also ways to forge stronger collaborative ties and reinforce the inclusiveness your service is building. 

If at any point you are uncertain about the first impression your service makes or you want some honest feedback to help you develop your practice and processes, you might want to consider asking a trusted friend or colleague to visit your service. Allow them to take on the role of a new family member coming into the service and experience the environment and the ways you communicate to develop relationships and trust.

Families could also provide helpful feedback on their orientation experience and suggest ideas you might incorporate into your communication strategies and service design. Along with these new families, you might also think about approaching those who are established at your service to give you another perspective.

Looking for ideas? Read our National Education Leader’s Collaborative partnerships with families and communities blog post. 

Fact sheet for families

Starting Blocks has released a fact sheet to help families understand key requirements of the National Quality Framework (NQF).

The fact sheet explains the quality improvement plan, quality ratings and educational program. It also describes how services are regulated; what parents can expect to be informed about; and that various policies and records are kept including the compliance record.

Families may be interested to see these documents which provide another opportunity to talk about the measures your service is putting in place to continuously improve the quality of education and care.

Visit the Starting Blocks website for more resources for families, including a fact sheet explaining the National Quality Standard and quality ratings.