What does high-quality early childhood education and care look like? Issue No. 022 The following information can be used by families choosing an early childhood education and care service for the first time, or by families who are already using a service. Early childhood education and care settings include family day care, long day care, kindergarten and occasional care. High quality early childhood Do you feel welcome? Are the own decisions about what to education and care has many educators asking questions draw or paint? features, but three are critical: about your child and your Are the outdoor and indoor family? Do they talk to your It is based on a genuine spaces welcoming and suitable child? Are they interested in partnership between you and for children? Are the buildings, your questions and concerns? your child’s educator. Both you furniture, equipment and and the educator must be able Are the educators warm and resources safe and well to work with each other to responsive when interacting maintained? support your child’s learning. with the children in their care? Ask lots of questions! Do they ask the children It allows children time to questions? Do they What is their rating against the through play to explore and – listen to the children? National Quality Standard? Is take part in a variety of learning the rating displayed? experiences. Look at the children playing. Do they have a choice of fun and How long have staff been at the It supports all aspects of your challenging learning service? A quality program will child’s learning and opportunities? Is there space offer a consistent, caring development identity, – for the children to play with relationship between staff and community, wellbeing, learning others or alone? Are there your child. If there is a high and communication. spaces where children can go turnover of staff or high Always in person to be quiet? numbers of relief staff, ask why. What does the physical Visit more than one service if How will the educators work environment tell you? Does the you can. Don’t just rely on what with you as partners in your environment appear to reflect other families say. Your child is child’s learning? the lives and cultures of the unique and all families are How will they include your children who use the service? different. child’s interests in the broader Is there a diversity of artwork Make sure the service is an educational program? How will where children have clearly approved service and is a they tell you about your child’s been encouraged to make their service approval displayed.
What does high-quality early childhood education and care look like? Issue No. 022 The following information can be used by families choosing an early childhood education and care service for the first time, or by families who are already using a service. Early childhood education and care settings include family day care, long day care, kindergarten and occasional care. High quality early childhood education and care has many features, but three are critical: It is based on a genuine partnership between you and your child’s educator. Both you and the educator must be able to work with each other to support your child’s learning. It allows children time to through play – to explore and take part in a variety of learning experiences. It supports all aspects of your child’s learning and development – identity, community, wellbeing, learning and communication. Always in person Visit more than one service if you can. Don’t just rely on what other families say. Your child is unique and all families are different. Make sure the service is an approved service and is a service approval displayed. Do you feel welcome? Are the educators asking questions about your child and your family? Do they talk to your child? Are they interested in your questions and concerns? Are the educators warm and responsive when interacting with the children in their care? Do they ask the children questions? Do they listen to the children? Look at the children playing. Do they have a choice of fun and challenging learning opportunities? Is there space for the children to play with others or alone? Are there spaces where children can go to be quiet? What does the physical environment tell you? Does the environment appear to reflect the lives and cultures of the children who use the service? Is there a diversity of artwork where children have clearly been encouraged to make their own decisions about what to draw or paint? Are the outdoor and indoor spaces welcoming and suitable for children? Are the buildings, furniture, equipment and resources safe and well maintained? Ask lots of questions! What is their rating against the National Quality Standard? Is the rating displayed? How long have staff been at the service? A quality program will offer a consistent, caring relationship between staff and your child. If there is a high turnover of staff or high numbers of relief staff, ask why. How will the educators work with you as partners in your child’s learning? How will they include your child’s interests in the broader educational program? How will they tell you about your child’s
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