Exceeding NQS in Quality Area 6: Engagement with the service (Element 6.1.1)

Practical Steps Towards an Exceeding NQS Rating in Quality Area 6: Element 6.1.1

To achieve an Exceeding NQS rating in the National Quality Standard 6.1, specifically for ELEMENT 6.1.1 ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SERVICE, here’s an exhaustive list of practical steps based on the provided references:

Element 6.1.1: Engagement with the Service

• Objective: Families should be supported from enrollment to be involved in the service and contribute to service decisions.

Practical Steps:

1. Enrollment and Orientation:
   • Invite prospective families to visit and familiarize themselves with the service before their child starts.
   • Encourage families to discuss their values and expectations for their child’s time at the service.
   • Allow families to share information about other child-related services they access.
   • Support families to stay with their child during the settling-in period and maintain open communication.
   • Assist families in developing a routine for saying goodbye.
   • Offer comfort and reassurance to children during separation from their families.
   • Share honest feedback with families about how their child is settling into the service.
2. Family Involvement:
   • Foster a culture of open, respectful communication between families, educators, and other service members.
   • Share information about children’s progress, relationships, interests, strengths, and experiences.
   • Create a welcoming environment for all families.
   • Recognize and value diversity when engaging with families.
   • Implement strategies to engage families in decision-making processes.
3. Feedback and Decision-making:
   • Provide opportunities for families to discuss their participation in the service and address any issues or concerns.
   • Encourage families to provide regular feedback and input about all aspects of the service.
   • Involve families in the development and review of the service’s programs, philosophy, policies, and procedures.
   • Seek family input during self-assessment and planning for quality improvement.

Exceeding NQS Guidance for Standard 6.1

Reflection Questions for Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations

• How do educators demonstrate a deep understanding of the requirements of the Standard?
• How are educators engaging collaboratively and respectfully with families from enrollment?
• How does the service’s approach align with the educational program and the service’s statement of philosophy?

Reflection Questions for Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection

• How does the service’s approach to supporting relationships with families reflect robust debate and discussion?
• How do educators intentionally consider alternate ways of engaging with families?
• How do educators discuss how the approach to engaging with families aligns with practice theory?

Reflection Questions for Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community

• How do relationships with families reflect the unique geographical, cultural, and community context of the service?
• How do educators actively support families to build relationships with other families and community services?
• How do educators explore opportunities to build trust and support families to contribute to the educational program?

By following these steps and continuously reflecting on the provided questions, your service can work towards achieving an Exceeding NQS rating in the National Quality Standard 6.1.

An Example Monthly Schedule

Ready to implement these practical steps in your service? Using the constraints of 4 hours per week to work on improvements, we’ve created an example schedule below.

Given the limited time of 4 hours per week, prioritization is key. Here’s a suggested monthly schedule for an educator to work on improving their service based on the practical steps provided:

Week 1: Focus on Enrollment and Orientation

1. Monday (1 hour):
   • Review current enrollment and orientation processes.
   • Identify areas of improvement and gather feedback from recent enrollments.
2. Wednesday (1 hour):
   • Develop a plan to invite prospective families for visits. This could include setting up specific days or times for tours.
3. Friday (2 hours):
   • Work on creating a comprehensive information packet for families that includes details about the service, its philosophy, and what they can expect during the orientation process.
   • Draft a feedback form for families to share information about their child and any other services they access.

Week 2: Enhance Family Involvement

1. Monday (1 hour):
   • Review current communication channels with families. Are they effective? Are there any barriers?
2. Wednesday (1 hour):
   • Plan a workshop or meeting for educators to discuss and brainstorm ways to foster open, respectful communication.
3. Friday (2 hours):
   • Start developing a strategy to engage families in decision-making processes. This could include setting up regular family meetings or creating a suggestion box.

Week 3: Feedback and Decision-making

1. Monday (1 hour):
   • Review the current feedback mechanisms in place. Are they effective? Are families using them?
2. Wednesday (1 hour):
   • Draft a survey or feedback form for families to provide input about all aspects of the service.
3. Friday (2 hours):
   • Begin planning a workshop or session where families can be involved in the review of the service’s programs, philosophy, policies, and procedures.

Week 4: Reflect and Plan for Exceeding NQS Guidance

1. Monday (1 hour):
   • Reflect on Exceeding Theme 1. How can the service better embed practices in its operations?
2. Wednesday (1 hour):
   • Reflect on Exceeding Theme 2. Identify areas where critical reflection can be better incorporated into the service’s approach.
3. Friday (2 hours):
   • Reflect on Exceeding Theme 3. Brainstorm ways to meaningfully engage with families and the community.
   • Plan for the next month: Identify any areas that need more focus and allocate time for them in the coming weeks.

By following this schedule, the educator can systematically address key areas for improvement in a structured manner, making the most of the limited time available.

Reflective Questions

Reflective questions are essential for educators to critically analyze their practices and identify areas for improvement. Here’s an exhaustive list of reflective questions specifically tailored for Element 6.1.1 – Engagement with the Service:

Reflective Questions for Element 6.1.1:

1. Enrollment and Orientation:
   • How welcoming and informative is our enrollment process for new families?
   • In what ways do we ensure that the orientation process is tailored to the unique needs of each child and their family?
   • How do we gather and incorporate feedback from families about their enrollment and orientation experiences?
   • Are there barriers that might prevent families from fully engaging during the enrollment and orientation phases? How can we address these?
2. Family Involvement and Communication:
   • How do we foster open and respectful communication with families on a daily basis?
   • Are there any challenges or barriers that families face in communicating with us? How can we overcome these?
   • In what ways do we ensure that families feel their voices are heard and valued within our service?
   • How do we adapt our communication methods to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of our families?
3. Feedback and Decision-making:
   • How regularly do we seek feedback from families about our service, and how do we use this feedback for continuous improvement?
   • In what ways do we involve families in the decision-making processes of our service?
   • How transparent are we with families about the changes we make based on their feedback and suggestions?
   • Are there any areas where family involvement could be increased or enhanced?
4. Building Relationships:
   • How do we build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with families?
   • In what ways do we acknowledge and respect the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and values of our families?
   • How do we ensure that every family feels a sense of belonging and inclusion within our service?
5. Continuous Improvement:
   • How regularly do we reflect on our practices related to family engagement and involvement?
   • Are there any areas of our engagement practices that need improvement or revision?
   • How do we stay updated with best practices and research related to family engagement in early childhood education?
6. Collaboration and Partnership:
   • How do we collaborate with families to ensure the best outcomes for their children?
   • In what ways do we support families in their role as their child’s first and most influential educators?
   • How do we foster a sense of partnership with families, where both parties contribute to the child’s learning and development?
7. Resources and Support:
   • What resources and support do we provide to families to enhance their engagement with our service?
   • How do we ensure that families are aware of and have access to these resources?
8. Challenges and Solutions:
   • What challenges have we faced in engaging with families, and how have we addressed them?
   • Are there any ongoing challenges that we need to find solutions for?
9. Future Goals:
   • What are our future goals related to family engagement and involvement?
   • How will we work towards achieving these goals, and how will we measure our success?

By reflecting on these questions, educators can gain a deeper understanding of their current practices, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies to enhance family engagement and involvement in their service.

Learning from ACEQA case studies

Let’s break down the practical steps taken by the services in the provided case studies to achieve Exceeding NQS standards in Element 6.1.1, along with the reasons, tips, and estimated implementation time for each step.

Case Study 1

Respectful relationships with children, families and communities are at the core of the philosophy of this regionally located before and after school care and vacation care service. This philosophy acknowledges families as children’s first and most influential teachers. It is also informed by and consistent with the principles and practices of My Time Our Place. This includes the value of collaborative partnerships with families to contribute to decision-making processes. It also includes appreciation and respect for diversity and difference.

1. Developing Enrolment and Orientation Policies Aligned with Service Philosophy:
   • Reason: Ensuring that the enrolment process is welcoming and informative, and aligns with the service’s philosophy of valuing families as children’s first and most influential teachers.
   • Tips: Engage in reflective conversations with the team to articulate what genuine partnerships with families look like in practice.
   • Estimated Time: 2-3 weeks for policy development and team discussions.
2. Ongoing Conversations with Educators about Values:
   • Reason: To ensure that abstract values like respect, trust, and collaboration are translated into tangible behaviors.
   • Tips: Document these conversations in staff meeting minutes for future reference. Use real-life scenarios to help educators understand and apply these values.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing, with regular monthly discussions.
3. Research-Informed Reflection:
   • Reason: To stay updated with the latest research and best practices, ensuring the service’s approach is evidence-based.
   • Tips: Regularly review and discuss relevant research papers and findings with the team.
   • Estimated Time: 1-2 hours per week for research and discussion.
4. Gathering Comprehensive Information during Enrolment:
   • Reason: To develop a deep understanding of each child and their family, ensuring the service can be proactive and responsive to their needs.
   • Tips: Regularly update the enrolment form to capture relevant information and ensure it’s user-friendly.
   • Estimated Time: Initial setup of 1 week, then ongoing updates as needed.
5. Flexible Enrolment and Orientation Processes:
   • Reason: Recognizing that some families might feel uncomfortable with the standard process and offering alternatives to cater to their needs.
   • Tips: Offer options like home visits, meetings with interpreters, or orientation at different locations.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing, tailored to each family’s needs.

Case Study 2

This family day care service is situated in a regional agricultural town where the main crops grown in the surrounding area are wheat, barley and canola. The town is home to children and families from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal families who are descendants of the Traditional Custodians of the local land and Anglo-Australian families, who have lived in the community for many years. The town’s residents also include families who are new to the community, having immigrated to Australia and moved to the town to seek work.

1. Engaging in Community Connections:
   • Reason: Building and sustaining respectful relationships and collaborative partnerships with local community members and services.
   • Tips: Regularly participate in community events, collaborate with local services, and engage in open conversations with community members.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing, with at least one community engagement activity per month.
2. Opening Play Sessions to All Families:
   • Reason: To create an inclusive environment where all families feel welcomed and can engage with the service.
   • Tips: Promote these sessions widely within the community and ensure they are accessible to all.
   • Estimated Time: Weekly sessions, with initial setup time of 1-2 weeks.
3. Reflecting on Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity:
   • Reason: Ensuring the service is respectful and responsive to the diverse cultural backgrounds of families.
   • Tips: Engage in regular team discussions, seek feedback from families, and collaborate with community services that cater to diverse populations.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing, with monthly reflection sessions.
4. Flexible Enrolment Interviews:
   • Reason: Recognizing potential barriers for families and offering alternative enrolment options to cater to their needs.
   • Tips: Offer home visits, interviews at different locations, or virtual interviews to make the process more accessible.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing, tailored to each family’s needs.
5. Engaging in Ongoing Reflection and Adaptation:
   • Reason: Continuously improving the service based on feedback and changing community needs.
   • Tips: Regularly seek feedback from families, engage in team reflections, and be open to making changes based on feedback.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing, with bi-monthly feedback sessions.

These practical steps, when implemented with dedication and consistency, can significantly enhance a service’s engagement with families and help achieve an Exceeding NQS rating in Element 6.1.1.