Exceeding NQS in Quality Area 7: Service philosophy and purpose (Element 7.1.1)

Practical Steps Towards an Exceeding NQS Rating in Quality Area 7: Element 7.1.1

To achieve an Exceeding NQS rating in the National Quality Standard 7.1 for ELEMENT 7.1.1 SERVICE PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE, here are the practical steps you can take:

Element 7.1.1: Service Philosophy and Purpose

A statement of philosophy guides all aspects of the service’s operations. The aim of Element 7.1.1 is to have a written statement of philosophy that outlines the purpose and principles under which the service operates. This statement should:

1. Reflect the guiding principles of the National Quality Framework and the approved learning frameworks.
2. Underpin the decisions, policies, and daily practices of the service.
3. Reflect a shared understanding of the service’s role among staff, children, families, and the community.
4. Guide educators’ pedagogy, planning, and practice when delivering the educational program.

To meet this element:

• Ensure that the practices of the educational leader, nominated supervisor, educators, and coordinators align with the service’s statement of philosophy.
• Reflect the values stated in the service philosophy in the service’s environment, policies, and procedures.
• Encourage educators and families to be meaningfully involved in reviews of the service’s statement of philosophy.
• Use the statement of philosophy to set directions, build commitment, and align actions with the service’s goals and desired outcomes.
• Review the service’s statement of philosophy regularly, especially with changes to management, staffing, and new knowledge about practice.

Exceeding NQS Guidance for Standard 7.1: Governance

To exceed the NQS in Standard 7.1, consider the following themes:

Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the requirements of the Standard.
• Ensure well-established governance arrangements and administrative systems consistently support high-quality service.
• Reflect the guiding principles of the National Law in the service’s statement of philosophy.
• Ensure all members of the service team understand and articulate their roles and responsibilities.

Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection

• Reflect on the statement of philosophy to ensure it aligns with the service’s current purpose and approach.
• Engage in regular reviews of systems, policies, and procedures to ensure they align with quality practice.
• Manage change processes sensibly and collaboratively with key stakeholders.

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

• Reflect the unique geographical, cultural, and community context of the service in its governance.
• Actively support families and the community to engage with the service philosophy, policies, and procedures.
• Enable families and the community to provide feedback on governance arrangements and administrative systems.

By addressing these themes and ensuring that the service’s practices align with the guidelines provided by ACECQA, you’ll be well-positioned to achieve an Exceeding NQS rating for Element 7.1.1.

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, it’s essential to prioritize tasks and break them down into manageable chunks. Here’s a suggested monthly schedule for an educator aiming to improve their service in line with the National Quality Standard 7.1 for ELEMENT 7.1.1 SERVICE PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE:

Week 1: Understanding and Reflection

Total Hours: 4

1. Hour 1: Review the current statement of philosophy. Read and understand the guidelines provided by ACECQA for Element 7.1.1.
2. Hour 2: Reflect on the current practices of the service. Identify areas that align with the statement of philosophy and areas that need improvement.
3. Hour 3: Engage in critical reflection. Consider how the service’s current philosophy aligns with its purpose and approach.
4. Hour 4: Research best practices and examples of high-quality service philosophies. Make notes on potential changes or additions to the current statement.

Week 2: Engagement and Feedback

Total Hours: 4

1. Hour 1: Draft a survey or feedback form for staff, children, families, and the community to understand their perceptions of the service’s role and philosophy.
2. Hour 2: Distribute the survey or feedback form and encourage participation.
3. Hour 3: Begin reviewing the National Quality Framework and approved learning frameworks to ensure alignment with the service’s philosophy.
4. Hour 4: Engage with a colleague or mentor for a discussion on the service’s philosophy, seeking their insights and suggestions.

Week 3: Analysis and Planning

Total Hours: 4

1. Hour 1: Collect and analyze the feedback received from the surveys.
2. Hour 2: Identify key themes and suggestions from the feedback.
3. Hour 3: Begin drafting a revised statement of philosophy, incorporating feedback and ensuring alignment with the National Quality Framework.
4. Hour 4: Plan how to implement changes in daily practices to align with the revised philosophy.

Week 4: Implementation and Review

Total Hours: 4

1. Hour 1: Finalize the revised statement of philosophy.
2. Hour 2: Share the revised philosophy with staff, children, families, and the community, explaining the changes and seeking their buy-in.
3. Hour 3: Implement changes in daily practices, policies, and procedures to align with the revised philosophy.
4. Hour 4: Reflect on the changes made, noting any immediate improvements or challenges. Plan for continuous review and improvement in the coming months.

Remember, the key is consistent, focused effort. Even with limited time, prioritizing tasks and breaking them down into actionable steps can lead to significant improvements in service quality.

Reflective Questions

Reflective questions are essential tools to guide understanding, stimulate critical thinking, and drive continuous improvement. Here’s an exhaustive list of reflective questions tailored for Element 7.1.1 SERVICE PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE:

Understanding the Philosophy

1. What is the core message of our current service philosophy?
2. How does our philosophy align with the guiding principles of the National Quality Framework?
3. In what ways does our philosophy reflect the approved learning frameworks?
4. How does our philosophy address the unique needs and characteristics of our community?

Implementation and Practice

1. How is our service’s philosophy evident in our daily practices and interactions?
2. In what ways do our policies and procedures align with our stated philosophy?
3. How does our philosophy influence our decision-making processes?
4. Are there aspects of our service that don’t align with our philosophy? If so, why?

Engagement and Collaboration

1. How have staff, children, families, and the community been involved in the development and review of our philosophy?
2. How do we ensure that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of our philosophy?
3. In what ways do we promote our philosophy to new staff, families, and community members?

Reflection and Growth

1. When was the last time we reviewed and updated our philosophy?
2. How do we ensure our philosophy remains relevant and responsive to changes in our community and the broader educational landscape?
3. Are there new insights, research, or educational theories that should be considered in our philosophy?

Challenges and Opportunities

1. What challenges have we faced in implementing our philosophy consistently?
2. How have we addressed these challenges?
3. What opportunities exist for enhancing our service based on our philosophy?

Feedback and Evaluation

1. How do we gather feedback about our philosophy from staff, children, families, and the community?
2. What feedback have we received about our philosophy, and how have we responded?
3. How do we measure the impact and effectiveness of our philosophy in achieving our service’s goals?

Future Planning

1. How does our philosophy guide our future planning and goal setting?
2. Are there aspects of our philosophy that need to be emphasized more in our practices?
3. How can we ensure that our philosophy remains a living document that guides all aspects of our service?

By regularly revisiting these reflective questions, educators and service providers can ensure that their philosophy remains relevant, is effectively implemented, and continues to guide the service towards excellence.

Learning from ACEQA case studies

Based on these case studies, here are the 5 most important practical steps that services have taken to achieve Exceeding NQS standards in Element 7.1.1, along with reasons, tips, and estimated time for implementation:

Case Study 1

This long day care service located in regional Australia has recently undergone a process of reviewing its philosophy with educators, families and community. The service undertakes an annual review to ensure they maintain high quality practice, identify further quality improvements and ensure that the philosophy reflects their current purpose, strengths and priorities, including the guiding principles of the National Quality Framework.

1. Reviewing the Service Philosophy Annually
   • Reason: Ensures the philosophy reflects current purpose, strengths, priorities, and guiding principles of the NQF.
   • Tips: Engage all stakeholders in the review process, including educators, families, and the community.
   • Estimated Time: 10-15 hours (spread over a month).
2. Engaging with Local Communities
   • Reason: Builds a deeper understanding of local values and priorities, such as connection to Country.
   • Tips: Regularly schedule meetings with local groups and elders to gain insights and feedback.
   • Estimated Time: 2-3 hours per meeting.
3. Gathering Feedback through Surveys and Art
   • Reason: Captures diverse perspectives on what’s working well and areas of improvement.
   • Tips: Use varied methods to gather feedback, ensuring all age groups can participate.
   • Estimated Time: 5-7 hours for survey creation, distribution, and analysis.
4. Research and Reflective Team Discussions
   • Reason: Informs practice by understanding the benefits of certain approaches, like nature play.
   • Tips: Dedicate time in staff meetings for discussions on recent research and its implications.
   • Estimated Time: 3-4 hours per research topic.
5. Visits to Other Services and Resource Sharing
   • Reason: Provides practical insights into implementing new initiatives, like a bush kinder program.
   • Tips: Organize field trips to other services and share relevant articles, blogs, and videos with the team.
   • Estimated Time: 6-8 hours for visits and resource sharing.

Case Study 2

This outside school hours care (OSHC) service is situated in a regional city and is one of several OSHC services in the community. The service is located in a local school and governed by a volunteer parent committee. The committee strives to achieve ongoing quality improvement and support the OSHC service team through the coordinator (appointed as nominated supervisor) who leads the day to day operations and management of the service.

1. Viewing Feedback as an Opportunity
   • Reason: Allows for critical reflection on current practices and identifies areas for improvement.
   • Tips: Create a culture where feedback, including complaints, is welcomed and acted upon.
   • Estimated Time: Ongoing.
2. Engaging with Stakeholders on Specific Issues
   • Reason: Ensures that solutions address the concerns of all involved parties, like the homework issue.
   • Tips: Organize focused discussions with parents, children, and educators on specific topics.
   • Estimated Time: 3-4 hours per issue.
3. Revisiting Service Philosophy and Frameworks
   • Reason: Provides guidance during decision-making, ensuring alignment with core values.
   • Tips: Regularly refer to the service philosophy and frameworks like MTOP during team discussions.
   • Estimated Time: 2-3 hours per discussion.
4. Setting Up Working Groups with Children and Educators
   • Reason: Ensures that solutions are co-created with those directly affected by them.
   • Tips: Rotate members to get diverse perspectives and encourage active participation.
   • Estimated Time: 4-5 hours per working group session.
5. Reviewing and Updating Induction Processes
   • Reason: Ensures that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the service’s operations and management.
   • Tips: Regularly gather feedback on induction processes and update materials accordingly.
   • Estimated Time: 8-10 hours for review and updates.

These steps, when implemented with dedication and consistency, can significantly contribute to achieving an Exceeding NQS rating in Element 7.1.1.