Accreditation and Framework
Poets Grove Family & Children’s Centre was assessed in December 2014 by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and received an overall rating of Meeting National Quality Standard.
Seven quality areas that are covered in the National Quality Framework are:
- Educational program and practice
- Children’s health and safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Leadership and service management
More information about Assessment and Rating can be found here:
http://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework/assessments-and-ratings
Framework
The Early Years Learning Framework is a curriculum initiative of the Federal Government and has been introduced to all Childcare Centres in Australia. The Framework provides a guide for early childhood educators who work with children from birth to five years.
Implementing the Early Years Framework requires the team at Poets Grove Family and Children’s Centre to participate in a number of training programmes, seminars and a conference and host meetings and workshops.
Belonging, being, becoming
The framework emphasises the importance of play-based learning to engender in childhood a strong sense of belonging to family and community. The framework also emphasises being in the here and now having fun and trying new things, and becoming an identity through learning and developing.
Learning Outcomes
To put this philosophy into action our educators will assist your child’s development through these 5 learning goals:
Learning Outcome 1 – A strong sense of identity
Learning Outcome 2 – Connections with their world
Learning Outcome 3 – A strong sense of well-being
Learning Outcome 4 – Confidence and involvement in their learning
Learning Outcome 5 – Effective communication skills
Poets Grove Statement of Commitment to the Child Safe Standards
Poets Grove Family and Children’s Centre is committed to the safety and well-being of children and, as such, is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to actively contributing to a child safe city where children are protected from abuse.
Our commitment to the safety of children is based on our duty of care and responsibilities to children and always acting in the best interests of children.
Our commitment will be enacted through the implementation and monitoring of the Child Safe Standards, as specified under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Act 2015.
Our Commitment To Children
We are committed to ensuring children feel safe, empowered and are taken seriously if they raise concerns in relation to their safety and well-being.
We value and support diversity, inclusion and equality. In acknowledgment of the particular vulnerabilities of these groups of children, and in accordance with the Child Safe Standards, we particularly support:
- the cultural safety of Indigenous Australian children and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- the participation and empowerment of children with a disability, Indigenous Australian children and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Our Commitment To Staff And Volunteers
We are committed to ensuring staff, volunteers and contractors understand that child safety is everyone’s responsibility.
We will ensure staff and volunteers are provided with the necessary support to fulfil their obligations in relation to child safety.
We will ensure staff are educated in child safety including abuse risks and how to interact and behave with children.
All employees of Poets Grove, including work experience students, agency staff, volunteers and independent contractors whilst located at the Centre must abide by our Code of Conduct which specifies the standard of conduct required when working with children.
Expectations in relation to behaviour are outlined in Poets Grove’s Code of Conduct.
Our Commitment To Ensuring A Child Safe Organisation
Recruitment
We will ensure all staff and volunteers who work with children have a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) and that there is an appropriate screening process for staff and volunteers that work with children including interview guides, advertisements and selection criteria which clearly demonstrate our commitment to child safety.
Training and Supervision
We will ensure all new and existing employees understand the importance of protecting children from harm. This will be supported through induction, training and professional development.
We will ensure staff understand the process for reporting any child safety issues and are supported by Centre Management.
Reporting
All allegations and concerns in relation to children’s safety will be taken seriously and will be investigated fairly and appropriately.
Poets Grove supports and encourages our employees to proactively report any behaviour deemed to be endangering the safety of children.
Poets Grove has a designated Child Safety Officer, who is available to support staff with any child safety concerns and to safely disclose risks of harm to children.
Reportable incidents and complaints are notified to the relevant authority (Child First, Child Protection or police).
Scope
This Statement of Commitment applies to all staff, including any person directly employed by Poets Grove, or employed through an agency or on a contract basis, and volunteers and work experience students, irrespective of their specific involvement in child related duties.
Review
This statement will be reviewed every two years, and following any changes to legislation or policy.
Definitions
Child/children: refers to children and young people aged under the age of 18 years.
Child Safety Officer: The appointed staff member who staff and volunteers can seek guidance and support when there are concerns regarding a child’s safety and who will initiate internal processes in relation to where matters need to be reported.
Cultural Safety: Where children experience their cultural identity, values and way of being, which may differ from other cultures; and their interactions with the wider community are respected, not challenged or harmed.
Working with Children Check (WWCC): Assists in protecting children from sexual or physical harm by ensuring that people who work with, or care for, them are subject to a screening process. The Check screens a person’s criminal records and any reports about professional conduct. (Department of Justice and Regulation)