RegulationandQualityAssessmentUpdate
Thisnewsletter includesinformation for early childhoodservices operating under the NationalQuality Frameworkand services operatingunder the Children’s ServicesAct 1996.
Issue16 | September2015
Evaluatingriskswhengoingonanexcursion
Now thatthe weather isgettingwarmer, manyservices willbe planningexcursions.
Arequirement of theEducationandCare Services National Regulations2011is to identifyandevaluate all therisks thatmay bepresentwhen leaving theservice and returningtotheservice(regulations100-101). Risk factorsmay include themethodof travel,thebehaviour of childrenand the destination.
As part of therisk assessment youmust put inplace strategiestomanage any identifiedrisks.Thiswillinclude increasing thenumberof educators andensuring that staff membersaccompanying thechildren on the excursionunderstand theirresponsibilities.For example,where children aregoing totheswimming pool thereshould be educatorswho canswim andassist children in thewater.
Educators’practices mustreflect the policies andprocedures of theservice.Regular monitoringof all children in attendanceat the excursion is important toensure thatthey are accounted for at all times particularly during transitiontimes and at the end ofexcursions.Havingan accuratelist ofnames of childrenon theexcursionwillassist educators toensure thateach childisaccounted for.
Theservicemaychoosetoreviewtheir excursionpolicy tomakesureitincludesall of the practicesand procedures requiredof educatorsand staffmembers duringanexcursion.
Further informationabout therequirements andconsiderationsfor excursionsis availablein thefactsheets:
•Excursions and regular outings
•Transporting children incentre-basedservice
•Transporting children in family day care
Thesefactsheetsare availableat:www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation/Pages/nqffactsheets.aspx.
Children’sServicesActservices
Educationalprogram
TheChildren’sServicesAct1996(CSAct)andtheChildren’sServicesRegulations2009(CSRegulations)specifytherequirementschildren’sservicesmustmeetintheirday-to-dayoperation.TheCSActcontainsimportantstandardsincludingthataneducationalorrecreationalprogramisavailableforchildren(section26B).
Theeducationalorrecreationalprogramthatisprovidedatyourservicemust:
•bebasedonthechild’sdevelopmentalneeds,interestsandexperiences
•bedesignedtotakeintoaccounteachchild’sindividualdifferences
•enhanceeachchild’sdevelopment.
Aprogramforchildren(sometimescalledacurriculum)refersnotonlytoplannedlearningexperiencesprovidedforchildrenbuttoallexperiences,bothplannedandunplanned(intentionalandspontaneous),thatchildrenhavethroughouttheday.
Anoutlineoftheeducationalorrecreationalprogrammustbedisplayedattheservice(regulation40(1)(e)).
Children’sprogramsshouldbeguidedbytheVictorianEarlyYearsLearningandDevelopmentFrameworkandtheNationalEarlyYearsLearningFrameworkandforschoolageprogramsMyTime,OurPlace–FrameworkforSchoolAgeCare.
Servicesmustprovidefurniture,materialsanddevelopmentallyappropriateequipmentthatissuitablefortheeducationalorrecreationalprogramprovidedforthatchild(regulation93).Thedesign,arrangementandvarietyofresourcesandequipmentassistincreatinganenvironmentwherechildrenareengagedandinterested,areabletoexploreanddiscoverandtomakechoices.
Insettingupthelearningenvironment,staffmembersshouldensurethatitpromoteslearning,meetsindividualneedsandenhanceschildren’semotionalandsocialwellbeing.
Furtherinformationisavailableat:providers/regulation/Pages/vcs.aspx
VictorianEarlyYearsLearningandDevelopmentFramework:vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/providers/edcare/veyldframework.pdf
TheEarlyYearsLearningFrameworkforAustraliaandMyTimeOurPlace–FrameworkforSchoolAgeCareinAustraliaareavailableat:gov.au
NQSPLPe-Newsletters:/e-newsletters
PracticeGuideandEvidencePaperforeachoftheeightPracticePrinciples:profresource.aspx
Deliveringachildren’sprograminalimitedhoursservice:gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation/Pages/vcsguides.aspx.
Culturalcompetence
BoththeEarlyYearsLearning FrameworkforAustralia(EYLF) andtheVictorianEarly YearsLearningandDevelopment
Framework(VEYLDF) highlight the importanceof creatingaculturallyinclusive environmentas afoundationforsupporting children’s identity and sense ofbelonging,andindeveloping trusting and securerelationships withboth children and families.
Whatis culture? Culture can bedefined as‘whatwe create beyondourbiology’. Notgiven tous,but madebyus (Williams,inMacNaughton,2003, p.14).Using this definition, culture incorporates thescope ofhumandiversity andwaysofbeing, such asgender,ethnicity,class,religion,ability, age,and sexuality(DEEWR, 2010,p.22).
Toeffectively develop respectful and supportiverelationships withallchildrenand families,educatorsneed tovaluetheinfluence thatculturehasonexperiences,understandings,expectationsandpractices.
Culturally competent educatorsarealsoable to identify this in relationtotheir own culturalcontext andexamineand addressanybiasorstereotyping.
Cultural competence isnot the ability to be ‘competentin aculture’,ratherthe ability tocompetently workwith childrenand familiesfrom allcultural backgrounds.The CulturalCompetencyContinuumisdefinedas‘a set of congruentbehaviours, attitudesand policies thatcometogetherinasystem, agencyor professional andenable thatsystem,agency orprofessional to work effectively in cross-culturalsituations’(Cross, 1989,citedin NewYorkState Citizens Coalition forChildren, Inc.,2006).
Oneof thefirststepstowardsculturalcompetence is toreflect on yourown world view andhow that hasbeeninfluenced by theculturalvaluesimplicitin your life. Educators whoidentify thecultural influencesin theirown experiencesand perspectivesare able torecognisethatothersalso experience lifein aculturalcontext.This understanding can assistearly childhoodservicesto embed culturalperspectives throughout allprograms, practices,policiesand relationshipstocreateaculturallyrichand safe environment forall children and families.
Fka Children’s Services(FkaCS) advocates forchildren’s culturalandlinguistic rights andprovides supportto early childhoodservices in theprovision of culturallyrichenvironments thatreflect acivilsociety.
Educatorsare supportedon theirjourney toculturalcompetency by:
•onsite supportvisitsto enhanceeducators culturalcompetency
•individual child and familysupport in the child’shomelanguage
•multilingualmaterialtosupportthecultural andlinguistic rights ofchildren
•telephonesupport andadvice
•professionallearning, coaching and training.
InformationonFkaCS bicultural supportprogramisavailableat:
orcall(03)94284471.
FactsheetsforservicesoperatingundertheChildren’sServicesActareavailableat:regulation/Pages/vcsfactsheets.aspx
NoJabNoPlayworkunderway
TheDepartmentofEducationandTraining(DET)andtheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices(DHHS)areworkingcloselywiththeMunicipalAssociationofVictoriatofinalisedetailsandsectorsupportmaterialsfortheproposedNoJabNoPlaylegislation.
Theproposedlegislationwillrequirechildrentobefullyimmunisedfortheiragebeforeenrolmentinanearlychildhoodservicecanbefinalisedandisexpectedtocomeintoeffecton1January2016.
Thelegislationwillapplytoallearlychildhoodeducationandcareservicesprovidinglongdaycare,kindergarten,occasionalcareandfamilydaycare.Itwillnotapplyto:
•outsideschoolhourscare
•casualoccasionalcareservicesthatoffercareoflessthan2hoursperdayandlessthan6hoursperweek,thisincludescrèchesatgymsandshoppingcentres
•playgroups
•enrolmentinprimaryorsecondaryschool.
AlettercontainingdetailsoftheproposalwassentbytheMinistersforHealthandEducationtoearlychildhoodserviceslikelytobeimpactedbytheproposedlegislation.
Supportmaterialsindevelopmentforearlychildhoodeducationandcareservicesincludeatoolkitthatcontainsadetailedexplanationofacceptabledocumentation,assessingeligibilityfortheproposed‘graceperiod’forvulnerableanddisadvantagedfamilies,andrecommendedresponsestolikelyscenariosthatservicesmayencounter.
Manyenquirieshavebeenreceivedbyservice
providers,DETandDHHS.AwebpageofcommonQuestionsandAnswerswasestablishedontheDHHSwebsiteandcontinuestobeupdatedinlinewithincomingqueries.
MoredetailwillbemadeavailableatthiswebaddressasthelegislationprogressesthroughParliament.Updateswillalsobeincludedinfutureeditionsofthisnewsletter.
Updatingcontactdetails
NQF servicescan update their details viatheNQAITSportalat:au/national-quality-agenda-it-systemandChildren’sServicesActserviceswishing toupdatedetails cancontactthe Departmentat:1300 307415 or viaemail at:licensed..
Licensees of Children’sServicesAct servicesregulatedunder theChildren’s ServicesAct 1996will receivecommunication in thecoming weeksadvising themof thedetails thattheDepartmenthason theirrecords.This willbeanopportunityforupdated information tobeprovided sothatwecan ensure yourrecords areaccurate.
Preparationforbushfireseason2015-16
Victoria has a number of fire-prone areaswhere there is ahigher risk ofbushfire activity.Centre-basedearly childhoodservices operatingin these locationsareplacedon theDepartment’s BushfireAt-RiskRegister (BARR).Alistof theservicesplacedon theBARR ispublished on theDepartment’swebsiteand is availableat: .
Serviceslistedon theBARR are requiredtomeet theconditionsthatareimposedon theirserviceapproval/licence, these are:
•theapproved provider/licenseeof aserviceon theBARRmust ensure thatonany daydeclaredtobe a Code Redday fortheregion in which aserviceislocated, thattheservice is closedand
remainsclosedforthe durationof the CodeRed day
•servicesnamedon theBARRmust submittheircurrent emergency management planannuallytotheirrespectiveQARRegional Officeby 21 November.
Contact detailsof therelevantQualityAssessment andRegulation (QAR) RegionalOfficesof theDepartmentareavailableat:nqf.aspx.
Servicesthat have submittedanemergency management plan in2015are not requiredtosubmitthesame emergency management plan,unlessithasbeen changed orupdated.
Furtherinformationisavailablein thefactsheet Managing bushfire risks incentre-basedservicesavailable at: aspx.
Theapproved providerof each family daycareservice must:
•Assessthe locationofeach residence and/or venueto determine whether theresidence orvenueislocatedinanarea considered ashigh risk ofbushfire.TheDepartment’s BARRcan beused to determine locations athigh risk of bushfireand isavailable at:.
•Incorporateprocedures formonitoringbushfire risks foreach family day careresidence or venue.
•Ensurethat educationand care isnotprovided at afamily day careresidence or venuelocatedin anarea considered ashigh riskofbushfireon a declaredCode Reddayin theirBureau of
Meteorologydistrict.Informfamiliesof any familyday careresidence or venuewhere educationand carecannot be provideddue toaCodeRed dayin theirBureauof Meteorologydistrict.
Furtherinformationisavailablein thefactsheet Managing bushfire risks in family day care availableat: .
Toallscholarshiprecipients –participationinsurvey
Ifyou have applied forascholarshipfromtheDepartment of EducationandTraining(DET)from2008–15 tosupportcompletion of anearlychildhood educationqualification, you wouldhave received anemailon 7September askingyouto participatein anonlinesurvey.
Thesurvey will take approximately15 minutes.
DETisundertakinganevaluation of scholarshipprograms to determine futureworkforcepoliciesand programs so please takethetimetocompletethesurvey whichwill cover:
•yourscholarship experience
•thequalityof yourcourse
•your participationinotherworkforceprograms
•how completingthecourse hasimpactedon the way you do your job.
Allinformation collected aspartof thesurvey isconfidentialandwillnotbe used for anypurposeother thanthatstated above.
EarlychildhoodscholarshipsforAboriginalpeople
Earlychildhoodscholarshipsareavailable forAboriginalpeopleworkingin aVictorian earlychildhoodsetting, orAboriginal peoplewhocan demonstratewillingnessand commitmenttoworkingin anearly childhoodsetting,toattainorupgradeanearly childhood educationqualification.
Followingcompletion of thecourse,successfulrecipientsare requiredto work foraminimumperiod of timein aVictorian early childhoodsetting, including MulticulturalAboriginalchildren’s services(MACS), Childrenand familycentres(CFCs),AboriginalBestStart,Aboriginal Playgroups,In Home Support,HomebasedlearningorChildand FamilyServices inanAboriginalcooperative or corporation.
Scholarshipsrangefrom $1,500 fora CertificateIIIin Early Childhood EducationandCare
to$12,000 for an Early ChildhoodTeachingDegree.
Applicationsare accepted atany time,and areavailableat:/careers/Pages/aboriginal.aspx
Formore information contact 1300651662oremail:.gov.au
Whatinformationmustanenrolmentrecordcontain?
TheEducation andCare Services National LawAct 2010andEducationandCare ServicesRegulations 2011requirethatanapprovedprovider of acentre-basedservice or family day careserviceand familyday careeducator mustkeep an enrolment recordfor each child enrolled atan educationand careservice.Theenrolment recordmustcontain details relatingtothechild,authorisationsgivenbyparents (or other specified persons), court ordersand related legaldocuments (regulations 160-162).
Achecklist has been developedin thefactsheet Enrolmentrecords toensure that all enrolmentrecordrequirementsare met and maintained.Theservicemust use amethod of collectingtheinformation whichensures that all of theprescribedinformation set outin regulation 160 isincludedand parentshave the opportunity to provide the information. Whererelevant,court orders, medicalmanagement plans, riskminimisation plans,authorisationsandother relevant documents should beattached totheenrolment record.
Theapprovedprovider and familyday careeducator must keepenrolment recordsavailable forinspection byanauthorisedofficer(section 175).
Anapprovedprovider and family day care educator must also takereasonablestepsto ensure theenrolment records are:
•accurate
•madeavailable tothe parentsof thechild upon request, unless otherwise stated by acourtorder (regulations 177and178).
Reflectivequestions
•Whatdowedo with the informationobtained fromthe enrolment records,howdoweassessand sharerelevant informationwitheducators?
•Howdoweinclude this informationinourprogramsandpractices?
•Do weuse this information tosupportchildren and families?Forexample,ifwe knowEnglishis asecond languageand/or there are specificcultural or religiousconsiderationsforachild/
family– areweusingthis information tosupportfamiliesandestablish meaningful andrespectfulrelationships andexperiences forthechild/family?
•Have weaccessedinformation fromthefactsheet availableon theDepartment’swebsite toassess thecontent ofour enrolment form?
•Do wehaveaneffective process inplace to ensureinformation on the enrolment forms iscurrent?
Furtherinformation isavailable inthefactsheetEnrolmentrecordsavailableat: vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation/Pages/nqffactsheets.aspx
FocusontheNationalQualityStandard
Theinformationbelowrepresentsthetop5elementsnotmetinVictoriainthelast12months,groupedbycaretype.Servicesmaywishtoconsiderhowtheyaremeetingtheserequirements.
Focusonelement1.2.1Eachchild’slearninganddevelopmentisassessedaspartofanongoingcycleofplanning,documentationandevaluation
Forauthorisedofficerstoassesselements1.2.1and1.1.4sightingdocumentationwillbethemajorsourceofevidenceandfortheremainingelements,observationsoftheprogrambeingdeliveredwillbethemajorsourceofevidence.Discussionswitheducatorswillclarifytheevidencecollectedandattimesprogramdocumentationwillbethereference.
Adocumentedplanoftheeducationalprogramthatprovidesinformationaboutthecontentsandtheoperationoftheprogramtobedeliveredtoallchildrenintheserviceisrequired(regulation75).
Acriticallyimportantpartoftheplanningprocessisrecordingtheplan.Thismeansthatplanninginvolvestheprocessofthinking,reflectinganddecidinganddocumentingthatprocess.
Planningismakingdecisionsabouttheprogram,thinkingaheadoftimeaboutindividualchildren,thechildrenasagroupandtheprogramyouwanttooffer,andthenpreparingforit.Planningneedstohappenaheadoftimeandbepartofanongoingcycleofplanning,implementingtheplan,reflectingandevaluating.
Plansneedtobeintentionalandtolinktodocumentationoftheoverallprogramplanandtheinformationcollectedanddocumentedabouteachchild.Plansshouldreflecttheservice’sstatementofphilosophy.Plansenablealleducatorsinthechildren’sroomtounderstandtheprogramandworktogethertoimplementtheprogram.
Thisarticleisprovidedby VictorianCurriculumandAssessmentAuthority
Assessmentforlearning–tool
TheEarlyYears Planning Cycle (EYPC) is used tosupport assessmentforlearning‘which isdesigned todiscoverwhat childrenknow andunderstand basedonwhat theymake, write,draw, say anddo.’(VictorianEarly YearsLearningandDevelopment Framework p.13)
TheEYPC outlines the processearly childhoodprofessionalsuse tocollectandanalyseevidence.Thiscontributestoa detailed,up-to-date,strengths-basedpictureof children’slearningand development to informplanningandpracticedecisions.TheEYPC isanongoing, reflectiveprocess that is adapted tosupport children’slearning in thecontext
offamily, culture,community and individual settings.Earlychildhoodprofessionalsrecognisefamilies as the primaryinfluenceonchildren’slearning anddevelopmentandworkinpartnership to develop sharedunderstandingsthatextend
learninganddevelopmentinallcontexts.
Aprompts sectionincludeskeyquestions tosupportrecording children’slearningand thinking about themeaningofchildren’s learning.
Itsuggests beginningwith a proposedprogramplanand usingall elementsofthePlanning Cycle.Afourthcolumnsupports ongoinglearningand reflective
Element7.2.2 Theperformanceofeducators,
practice.
Reflectingonalleventsand
TheEarlyYearsPlanningCyclesisadaptedfromEducator’sguidetotheEYLF(2010)
co-ordinatorsandstaffmembersisevaluatedandindividualdevelopmentplansareinplacetosupportperformanceimprovement
Information addressing this elementisavailablein the RegulationandQualityAssessment Updateissue13 (May 2015)pg3-4,availableat:newsletters.aspx
Resources
FactsheetsforNQFservicesareavailableat:vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation/Pages/nqffactsheets.aspx
experiencessupports practitioners toreview and informdecisionsaboutchildren’slearningand their planningandpracticedecisions.
Thisresourcecan beused to guide team discussions aboutchildren’slearning linked topracticedecisions, as isavailable at: edu.au
•Aresourcetosupportdocumentationof children’slearning,availableat:EYE10_SuppChildLearn_FA.pdf
•Documentation ofchildren’slearning tool. Thissampletoolcanbe savedtoyour own files and adaptedandexpressedin
variousways tosuit individual servicesettings,andisavailableat:EYE10SupportChildLearnTemplateWord.doc