[emmas*mum]

Hi

I'm trying to work out what it means when a pre-school isn't meeting the National Quality Standard for Education and Care Services.

Our pre-school received their assessment a week or so ago and put a single paragraph in the newsletter. Of the 7 quality areas they had 4 x 'Working Towards', 2 x 'Meeting', and 1 x 'Exceeding'. They said they are formulating a response. I read the 'Working Towards' as a touchy feely way of saying your not meeting that area, but I don't actually know.

But what does it mean? They are now closed so I don't know if it means they have serious issue, whether they have a set period to address the issues, whether this is common or if this is just part of the teething process for a new framework.

Any thoughts?

[Verurtle]

The government seriously has a lot to answer for with the new National Quailty Framework.

To have one area as exceeding is a great pin in their hat.

As a Centre Director I have heard of some assessors who will not give out anything more then a working towards rating due to the fact that everyone is new to the process.

Have a look at the National Quality Standards and the process on the government website ACECQA.

A working towards rating does not mean they have failed. It means they have satisfactory meet the criteria but are still working towards a higher rating.

A fail would mean they had recieved a Significant Improvement Required rating for 1 or more areas.

The ratings are really confusing. Also there is no average rating. You can recieve 6 meeting and 1 working towards and have working towards as your overall rating as it is based on your lowest rating.


The other pat of the new process is that based on this rating it will determine when they are assessed next, With a working towards rating they will be assessed again in the next 12 months. With a meeting rating it would be every 2 years, then exceeding every 3 years.

Don't forget this is a new process that all centres and preschools are now going through, no one is expected to recieve exceeding on their first turn.

http://acecqa.gov.au/faqs/assessment-and-ratings/

http://acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-fram...nt-and-ratings/

Any questions let me know

[emmas*mum]

Thank you so much for such a detailed response! I feel so much better. I don't know the centers overall rating, but in reading your comment I realise it's the way it has been communicated by the pre-school - even giving the rating scale would have allayed some of my concerns. With the right communication to parents this doesn't need to be seen as worrying. A new framework will always have a teething process, and it sounds like this 'report card' can be seen in that light.

Thank you again

[Lightning_bug]

OP, keep an eye on it. Ask your school lots and lots of questions. Don't be afraid to put the director through the ringer asking what's being done and if they have a goal and plan. Most schools will actually have a document which outlines their objectives, what they're doign to improve things and when it'll be done.

The assesment may be confusing (and at times subjective based on the assesor) but it is incredibly important and is a wonderful indication of your school's ability to provide for your children.

The PP pretty much gave you a run-down of how it works but, my opinion for what it's worth, is the moment there's a failed you leave. It takes quite a lot to actually fail an area and if this occurs (again in my opinion) then they may be doing OK but there are plenty of centres doing far better.

[Verurtle]

The PP pretty much gave you a run-down of how it works but, my opinion for what it's worth, is the moment there's a failed you leave. It takes quite a lot to actually fail an area and if this occurs (again in my opinion) then they may be doing OK but there are plenty of centres doing far better.

Just remember that to recieve a 'working towards' again is not a fail.

I heard of one centre yesterday that recieved exceeding in 6 areas, and working towards in Sustainability. This working towards rating was what they recieved as their final result. Again it was mentioned that no centre at the moment is recieving higher then working towards.

If the rating was to go off their average result they would most certainaly recieve Exceeding as their final result.

Don't be afraid to put the director through the ringer asking what's being done and if they have a goal and plan.

If they have recieved a high rating in most areas they should already be doing this through the centre newsletter and displays.

[SplashingRainbow...]

Everything verutle said!

I'm on the executive committee of a LDC (i don't work there) and it is an excellent quality centre - however we are expecting a "working towards" rating due to the changes to the framework.

I adore our centre. I have extremely high standards and often drop in unannounced. It is an excellent centre and greatly enriching the children's lives. The rating is a technicality and doesn't communicate to parents whether the centre is a good centre or is in trouble.

Having said that, I do encourage all parents to make their own assessments against the framework, drop in unannounced as often as possible, and communicate regularly with your child's main carer. I think parents generally will pick up issues well before an assessment which is planned, announced and where all staff are on their "best" behaviour.

This post has been edited by brighton14: 04/01/2013, 09:11 AM