“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Service Philosophy and Purpose.
Element 7.1.1: A statement of philosophy guides all aspects of the service’s operations.
When was the last time you critically reviewed your Service philosophy to ensure it truly reflects the values, beliefs, and aspirations of your entire Service community?
Ensuring your Service philosophy is robust, relevant, and reflective of your community’s values is central to meeting Element 7.1.1 of the NQS. This element requires that the service has a clearly articulated philosophy that is developed and reviewed with input from educators, families, children, and the community, guiding all aspects of the service’s operations.
Ensure you review your philosophy at least annually, or when required, for example with changes in children and families at the service, or changes with educators and management. Following this will ensure it remains a ‘living’ document that accurately reflects your Service’s current context and consistently meets the needs of the current families, staff and children and reflects the values of all stakeholders. Services should seek meaningful input from families, children, staff and the community to ensure that the core principles outlined in your philosophy are an accurate representation of the families, children and staff of the Service.
At your next philosophy review meeting, brainstorm with your team to learn new ways to gain input from your Service community. Consider some of these practical strategies to ensure their input is meaningful, inclusive, and actionable:
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- Create accessible feedback channels: Diverse stakeholders, including busy families have varying communication preferences and availability, making it necessary to offer multiple avenues for input to maximize participation. By implementing a range of feedback methods, such as online surveys through platforms like “Google Forms” or “SurveyMonkey” with simple questions like “What values should guide our service?”, or “What do you value most about a quality ECEC Service”, you can reach families who prefer digital engagement. Physical suggestion boxes placed in high-traffic areas like the service’s reception, paired with paper forms translated into community languages, ensure accessibility for families with language barriers. For children, a visual feedback station with drawing materials or stickers allows them to express what they love about the service in an age-appropriate way. Launching a “Philosophy Feedback Week” with clear signage, email announcements, and a children’s art board can create excitement and encourage broad participation over a 2-3 week period, accommodating varied schedules and targeting a wider audience.
- Facilitate collaborative workshops: Workshops foster dynamic dialogue, spark creative ideas, and cultivate a sense of ownership among stakeholders, making them a powerful tool for co-creating a shared vision. Organising small focus groups, including educators, families, and community members, i.e., local elders or cultural representatives, allows for meaningful discussions guided by questions such as “What makes our service unique?” or “How can we better support children’s wellbeing?” Scheduling sessions at varied times, such as morning and evening, enhances accessibility. Offering snacks, refreshments and childcare during these sessions can further boost attendance and engagement.
- Engage children authentically: Children’s voices are central to the NQS, bringing unique perspectives that ensure your Service philosophy reflects their lived experiences at the service. Engaging children through age-appropriate methods, such as storytelling circles where they share “What makes you happy here?” or art projects where they draw their favourite activities and experiences, allows them to contribute meaningfully. Educators can document these responses through photos, quotes, or written observations, capturing the voices and insights of younger children. For older children, group discussions during circle time with questions like “What do you want to learn here?” can invite valuable input. Setting up a “Children’s Philosophy Wall” in the foyer to display their drawings and quotes not only informs the philosophy but also shares their contributions with families, reinforcing their sense of belonging.
- Community and cultural input: Incorporating community input ensures your philosophy is culturally responsive to, and inclusive of your Service’s local community, aligning with the NQS for diversity, equity and community engagement. Inviting local community members, such as Indigenous Elders, disability advocates, or cultural organisations, to a philosophy review forum, offered in-person or virtually, provides diverse perspectives. Consider partnering with local schools or community groups to broaden input. Building ongoing relationships with these stakeholders sustains their involvement beyond the annual review, strengthening community ties and the Service’s inclusivity.
- Document and communicate the review process: Transparency in the review process builds trust and ensures stakeholders feel valued, fostering a sense of belonging and ongoing engagement. Sharing updates through newsletters, noticeboards, or family meetings about how feedback shaped the philosophy reinforces its collaborative nature and encourages future involvement from stakeholders. Documenting the process in your QIP, including methods used and outcomes achieved, provides evidence for Assessment and Rating. Displaying the finalised philosophy prominently in the foyer, in all induction resources, the Service QIP and on the service’s website, with accessible formats like large print or translations, ensures it remains a core, living document that guides daily practice and is showcased with pride.
Services must be able to demonstrate that their philosophy is a living document by:
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- Having documented evidence of a recent review (that has shaped the current philosophy), involving all relevant stakeholders, is in line with the NQS, reflects current purpose, practice, new research, policy and procedure and legislative changes
- Including the current statement of philosophy in the Service’s staff induction pack and procedure
- Including the current philosophy in the family orientation pack/procedure
- Using the service philosophy to guide educators and management in decision making, pedagogy and practice. Educators should be able to articulate how the Service philosophy guides their practice.
- The values stated in the philosophy being reflected in the service environment, policies and procedures
- Ensuring the most recently reviewed version is included in the service’s QIP r55.
Element 7.1.1 challenges Service leaders to go creative lengths to construct a philosophy that is a dynamic, collaborative reflection of their community’s values. By engaging stakeholders through accessible, inclusive, and creative methods, management and educators can craft a philosophy that’s not only aligned with the NQF but also inspires high quality practice and continual improvement. A well-reviewed philosophy is more than a document, it’s a roadmap for delivering exceptional outcomes for children, families, and communities.
Resources:
Guide to the NQF: Standard 7.1-Governance, Element 7.1.1: Service philosophy and purpose
Reviewing your Service philosophy
How does your service philosophy guide effective leadership and governance
We Hear You: Does your service vision lead the way?
Within System7 go to Quality Area 7/Module 3 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 developing, reviewing and documenting your service philosophy. These include the Record of Philosophy Review, Philosophy Development and Review Procedure, Philosophy Template and more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 7/ 7.1.1- Service philosophy and purpose
National Regulations – 55
System7 Module – QA 7/ Module 3
If you have any questions, send us a note via the Contact page here!
