Components Of NQF & Relevancy To Childcare

[HARP]

The National Quality Framework took effect on 1 January 2012. a) In your own words describe each of the components of the National Quality Framework and how they are relevant to a child care centre. b) How does a centre benefit from the NQF? c) How do staff benefit? d) What are the benefits for families? e) What are the benefits forchildren?

a)There are seven critical areas in the National Quality Framework that an Early Childhood Education and Care services centre must adhere to. They are as follows:
-Educational Program and Practice principle that outlines how curriculum and culture-based teaching and learning,assessments, dissemination of results and policies and procedures are to be carried out at the centre.
-Children’s Health and Safety principle ensures the centre's programs and procedures incorporates a clean,safe and healthy environment conducive to learning and interaction.Certain procedures must be followed to ensure safety and report anything detrimental.For instance fire, alcohol exposure, injury, infectious diseases, etc.
-Physical Environment principle ensures spacious, safe, clean, healthy, hygienic and inviting physical, indoor, outdoor, and natural environment.Hence, children can make selections about their daily learning experiences. A well-ventilated area with adequate space, visible learning resources and facilities will foster learning by considering the needs and the cultural expectations of the community at large.
-Staffing arrangements principle highlights measures, policies and procedures regarding staff-student ratio, staff recruitments, job descriptions, certain entitlements,and upgrading of staff knowledge and skills. -Relationships with Children principle focuses on how children should be treated at the centre irrespective of their culture, race, ethnicity or background. All children need to be respected, treated equally and given a warm and caring atmosphere to promote a trusting, healthy and meaningful engagement.
-Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities principle provides opportunities for the families and communities to be actively involved and integrated in centre's decision making process. This gives them access to information concerning their children, centre’s operation or any changes or developments. -Leadership and Service Management principle outlines the organisation structure and the overall administration processes of the centre. This basically involves record keeping of visitors, students, teachers, enrolments and implementation of policies and procedures by the administrative staff. The centre benefits from the National Quality Framework as it is an excellent nationally recognised platform for centre’s operation.

b.The National Quality Framework act as a basis for centre’s policies and procedures that ensure the best promising education for first five years of a child’s life in a safe, healthy and supportive learning environment. Therefore, all Childhood or Early learning centres operate and perform in a similar fashion as they are assessed and rated by the common assessing authority using the same standard and criteria. The centre’s activities do not exist in isolation as the policies and procedures are intact for those who are directly or indirectly involved in its operation.It always has the support of the parents, communities, educational authorities and professional development teams. As it greatly ensures participation of communities and families, the centre receives assistance in planning, assessment and organising cultural or centre functions.

c. The staff benefits due to implementation of Fair Work Australia's entitlements like competitive pay rates, certified hours of work ,low child teacher ratio, etc. They are also given opportunity to upgrade their qualification to Diploma level and receive qualification grants from the government. The Staffing arrangement principle focuses strongly on these aspects.

d. The families benefit as they are supported and respected.Meaningful relationships are developed with the centre staff, caregivers and child supporting authorities. For example, parents given information about parenting, support from community services in certain cases, given feedback on their children’s health and education, etc. They also have access to centre’s information and evaluation procedures.Since their beliefs and values are also given priority, they have chances in reviewing policies and procedures as well.

e.The children benefit as they have national standard curriculum and assessment like any other centre. The main principles of national quality framework are embedded in their curriculum and assessment as well. This includes both in and out of class education. This ensures the best education and care for children up to five years Their centre like any other centre is rated and assessed by a common assessing authority, ACECQA.


Please help

[Lorina]

I think your answers are on the right track...

,
Lorina