Appleberries A&R Audit Tool

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Assessment and Rating Action Plan

This record is a guide for you to check that you are meeting the National Quality Standards, it is not a guarantee that you will receive Meeting. Practices from Educators make up a large percentage of the assessment and it is important to know that time spent observing and providing support is valuable. There will be service specific practices that will need to be added to this record if you wish to monitor further

Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice

Ensure that all educators are reflecting on the program regularly – can be daily or weekly. Can be in a reflective diaries/These reflections should be critical reflection of the program
Curriculum checks are to be conducted at least monthly by Educational leader
Check all portfolios and make sure that they are up to date. Please record all this information on the program checklist
Set educational leader goals for the year in conjunction with the educators
Observations are varied and regular for every child
All portfolios are displayed in the rooms and that there is a sign to invite families to look at these and add input to them
Checklist of achievements that the child has reached throughout the year. Set goals with families and add to child’s portfolio
Ensure that each educator has the service philosophy and that their programming is reflective of the philosophy and that each educator has a strong understanding of the philosophy
Ensure that each family’s cultural background is represented on the program and in each room
Transition statements for each child when the children are moving from room to room
Outdoor program is implemented and is an extension of the indoor program – all educators are contributing to it regularly
Educators are receiving at least 2 hours programming each week and that the time given is consistent. Trainees are given their allocated time. Educational leader is allocated time off the floor to meet with educators and assess their work. Early Childhood teacher is given at least 3 hours programming a week

Quality Area 2- Children’s Health and Safety

Ensure that all medication plans are up to date and placed in an area that is familiar to each room – keep assigned document to show that all educators have read and understood plans. Ensure that this is on the induction for all educators
Toy cleaning roster to ensure that they are actually being cleaned and once washed placed in sun if possible, to dry
Ensure every educator has completed child protection training
Ensure that there is signage on all locked chemical cupboards
Complete a lock down at least 3 times a year/ complete all required evacuations in conjunction with these. Alternate them. Make sure they are recorded and placed in a folder
Ensure that you have a good supervision plan for all educators for the outdoor area
Ensure that children are given choice to eat and when they choose to eat
If you have a chef – get them to seek feedback from children and families regarding the menu. Have it recorded and change menu if something is not popular. Seek input from families for recipes. Ensure families are informed of any changes made to menu
Place a safety plug in every power switch
Do we offer an opportunity for mothers to breast feed in the service
Do we offer opportunities for children to play and interact with siblings
Complete risk assessments for indoors and outdoors
Check and update your first aid kit at least monthly
Ensure menu is on display at all times – in rooms and foyer
Ensure that all educators and staff have completed chemical training – Do we include process and information on induction?
Ensure that there is a process for Mouthed Toys and soiled laundry, and everyone is aware
Check Nappy changes to ensure that the educators are following the actual process

Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment

Put in place a sustainability plan that commences with one or two goals and embed these before moving on to the next ones
Recycle bins in each room -teach children where the paper goes and why – do you recycle food scraps for farm animals etc
Complete regular WH&S audits – at least monthly
Appoint a sustainability champion within the centre- this should be an educator/s and child/ren in each room
Set up a strong method for recording maintenance and ensure that it is acted on in due time
Check every room has sufficient equipment – include the same check for outdoors
Ensure open and close checks are being completed – check daily
Natural light and ventilation – is this happening in the rooms each day- speak to educators about opening windows fresh air less air conditioners and heating – not making rooms dark at rest time

Quality Area 4- Staffing Arrangements

Ensure all educators have received and signed Code of Conduct and have received a staff handbook
Subscribe to Acecqa/ early childhood newsletter and place newsletters in staff room along with other books and documentation so that educators have opportunities to update their knowledge
Complete an accurate staff schedule- check it at least twice a year against educator’s records. Once this has been done create a folder that you can present to the Assessor without having to go through files
Record staff child ratios every day- keep these in a file
Ensure that all responsible persons have signed the agreement and it is on their file
Educator meeting to discuss strengths that each educator has. How do you utilise these strengths in the service
Spend time on the floor watching and listening to educator communication with children
Conduct meetings with all educators – record minutes and attendance ensure that you are discussing quality areas and quality improvement plan and keep a folder for this purpose as well
Place all educator photos in the foyer with their Name/ qualifications/ first aid/ CPR / anaphylaxis and asthma training sign underneath photo
Ensure that all staff and child records are in a locked cupboard
Ensure there is a system for recording responsible person log in and out
Complete educator professional appraisals at least annually. Can be 6 monthly for best practice
Regular professional development is being completed for all educators
Ensure that the roster is consistent and is allowing for continuity of care and that your casuals are consistently placed in rooms. Roster is distributed to all educators one week in advance at all times
Ensure that each educator has completed a thorough induction on employment- Better practice would be to review and revise these as a group at a staff meeting
Ensure that you can explain practices related to poor performance and how this is monitored

Quality Area 5- Relationships with Children

Observe and listen to educators and provide feedback regarding tone of voice when talking to all children. Check that educators encourage conversation with children by asking open ended questions and are taking time to listen to children
Check that all transitions support and respect the rights and the dignity of each child. Check that transitions are relaxed and encourage an opportunity for learning
Ensure that each educator has a copy of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of The Child
Check that educators understand Educator to child ratios for each age group and can organise/ or assist in organising the correct ratios when combined in larger groups
Monitor interactions when educators are assisting children with behaviour management. Check that educators remain calm and supportive of the child in moments of high stress situations
Check that educators are aware of cultural background of the children in their room and support them to feel a sense of belonging through program input, family connections and celebrations

Quality Area 6 – Collaborative partnerships with families and Communities

Compile a folder of useful information in the foyer for families to access – don’t print multiple copies place a note in front stating that we will print out for you extra copies if you require – due to sustainability etc
Make up enrolment packs to include the following – useful websites/ cultural survey/ child protection/ dealing with Medical conditions policies
Ensure that you are completing your newsletters bimonthly at least – place current one in enrolment pack
School links – what have you established with local schools – links for preschool/ kindergarten
Make sure you have a very thorough enrolment process and make sure that you can talk your way through it
Think about how you are linking with your community – what are you doing as a service- include all the links and visits in a large folder or book for potential families to look through or add to website etc
Encourage families to contribute to the program – invite them in to read/ cook/ attend functions/ organise parent teacher meetings

Quality Area 7- Governance and Management

Check all policies that are on display are up to date and required. Check through your centre policy book and do the same
Check prescribed information to be displayed Regulation 173- and ensure that you have everything in place
Review your service philosophy in conjunction with families’ educators and children. Ensure that this is updated at least annually
Grievance procedure in place
Ensure that the educational leader has signed the prescribed indemnity and that you have overseen all their work and are equally familiar with the process
Quality improvement plan – Self assessment must occur in order to complete a Quality improvement plan. Ensure that the QIP is on display at all times and families are given opportunities to add to it. Look at it at least monthly so that it is current and up to date. Add results from this action plan to your QIP if required
Complete a full audit on all Current children’s enrolments
Complete a full audit on all current staff files – staff schedule / WWCC / etc
Ensure that you have a system for tracking trainees and their study if applicable
Complete a full audit of medication documentation/ medical management plans/ medication boxes/ Check your Epipen is current
Ensure that all regulatory policies are current and up to date
Ensure your staff induction process is thorough and there is supporting documentation to provide assessor – induction/ PD Info/ Staff review
Ensure that your family induction process is thorough, and you are confident in explaining it