“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Information for families.
Element 1.3.3: Families are informed about the program and their child’s progress.
Have you recently reflected on current practice to determine new, innovative and meaningful ways to share relevant information with families about each child’s participation and progress?
Regulation 76 and Element 1.3.3 of the NQS emphasise the importance of providing families with meaningful insights into their child’s engagement and progress in the educational program. As we know, quality outcomes are best achieved when the service works in partnership with individual families to better understand their unique needs and context. Educators must consistently work in partnership with families in collecting information and planning for each child’s learning and development and ensure they keep families informed about the program and their child’s participation and progress. Children’s views, feedback and opinions about program planning and evaluation also inform this process.
When reviewing and reflecting on your methods of communication with families about the educational program:
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- Consider the varying needs of the families at your service and their preferred methods of communication
- Periodically request feedback from families about their preferred methods of communication and how they would like to receive updates about their child’s participation and progress. Keep in mind that their preferred methods may change over time
- Consider and address any barriers to consistent communication, including language barriers, time constraints or access to information online
- Consider if the information is clear and comprehensible, i.e., learning outcomes and any codes/acronyms are clearly detailed
- Ensure families are aware of the methods of communication used and how they can provide feedback. Promote these in your parent handbook, regular posts via your online platforms & in your service Newsletter
- Encourage families to provide feedback on the information they’re receiving about their child’s participation and progress in the program:
- Is it comprehensible?
- Does it provide meaningful insight into their child’s engagement and development?
- Does it address the families’ outlined goals for their child?
- Consider if the information is easily accessible to all families, including families with diverse needs and how these barriers are addressed.
Services that consistently work in partnership with families nurture strong, reciprocal and trusting relationships that contribute to the child’s development, wellbeing and support continuity of care. Informed families can actively participate in their child’s learning and development and better equip them with knowledge and information to reinforce learning outcomes at home and engage in meaningful conversations with their child about their experiences at the Service.
Resources:
Educational Program Documentation for Approved Providers- Early Childhood
Educational Program Documentation for Approved Providers- School Age Care
Digital documentation for families- quality or quantity?
Communicating with families about children’s learning
Within System7 go to Quality Area 1/Modules 9, 13, 14 & 15 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with educational program and practice. These include Educational Program Policy and Procedure, All About Me- Child Introduction form, Observation Record, Learning and Development Register, Family Communication Policy, Communication Audit, Newsletter templates and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 1/ 1.3.3- Information for families
National Regulations – 74, 75, 76 & 155
System7 Module – QA1/Modules 9, 13, 14 & 15
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
