New Educators

Important information for new educators, and how to become a Family Day Care educator.

Introduction

Thank you for showing an interest in becoming a registered Educator with EARLY EDUCATION FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICE. This information booklet introduces you to Family Day Care.

We hope this information can help you decide if being an Educator is a good occupation for you. Family Day Care is profit based quality education and child care service that offers professional and supervised care for children up to 12 years of age in the private homes approved, registered Family Day Care Educators.

The service is managed by the coordination unit to provide the highest standards of quality care for children in a secure and stimulating home environment.

Our service is regulated and assessed by the Australian Children’s Education Care Quality Authority and follows The National Quality Framework.

This process recognises the service’s strengths and where improvements can be made. The process involves Educators, staff, children, families and management covering all aspects of Family Day Care processes using the assessment tool for continuous improvement of the service.

The aim of the service

Daily experiences and opportunities that encourage learning, increase socialisation, promote physical growth and maintain emotional stability are aims of each Educator.

Early education family day care service supports the principles of an inclusive environment, which ensures that all children and families are treated equally with no bias in race, gender, religion or abilities. Suitably qualified and experienced people from a diverse range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply for positions and are assisted to become Educators for the service.

The aim of the service is to provide a quality home based service which abides by the National Regulations and Law, Department of Education & Community Services, the conditions of the Federal Government and the Department of Education, and adheres to the guiding principles and policies of early education family day care Service.

Educators are required to implement a program of suitable experiences each week for all children in care based on the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time Our Place Framework.

Requirements for becoming a Family Daycare Educator

To become a Family Day Care Educator you must provide the following documents:

Certificate III in Children’s Services (minimum) or enrolment confirmation in Childcare specific course
Current First Aid and CPR certificates
Current Anaphylaxis Management certificate
Current Emergency Asthma Management certificate
Medical check confirming you are physically and emotionally able to care for children (Medical Practitioner to complete, form attached to Educator Application)
National Police Check www.instantchecks.com.au and Working with Children Check number. www.kids.nsw.gov.au (Anyone over 18 year’s old living in your house must also undergo a National Police check and a Volunteer Working with Children Check).
Written permission to operate a family day care service from your landlord (if you rent your home)
Public liability insurance –this is available from Family Day Care Australia www.fdca.com.au (provide copy to our administration) Ensure you:

Have an appropriate understanding of children’s needs and development.
Are responsive to children.
Are able to communicate effectively with children and families
Are over 18 years of age
Provide a smoke free, safe, friendly and educational learning environment
Make any pets inaccessible to children in your care
Have a computer or similar and internet for business information and communication
Participate in ongoing professional development including child protection training
Understand that you will be a small business operator and while the Coordination Unit works hard to place children with Educators income cannot be guaranteed
Maintain recertification of the minimum standards required from ACCEQA

Additional Information

Taxation

Family Day Care Educators are regarded as being self-employed by the Australian Taxation Office. It is the responsibility of the Educator to seek financial and taxation advice; however there are a number of business deductions available to Educators and this makes Family Day Care an attractive business proposition. www.ato.gov.au

Memberships

Educators are encouraged to join NSW Family Day Care www.nswfdc.org.au and Family Day Care Australia www.fdca.com.au these organisations work to represent Educator’s, both nationally and at state level. Membership to Family Day Care Australia entitles members to reduced insurance costs, an informative magazine, publications and resources at discounted prices, as well as being kept up to date on Family Day Care issues.

Smoking

The Family Day Care service is to be a ‘smoke free’ environment. Educators, family members, parents and visitors are not permitted to smoke in the home whilst children are in care, nor in vehicles that children registered with Family Day Care are being transported in. If a person wishes to smoke in the environment when children are not in care, ashtrays will need to be cleaned of ash and cigarettes prior to children arrival. Lighters, matches and cigarettes must be stored out of reach before the children re-enter care. Homes will need to be ventilated to reduce the smell of smoke. Drugs and Alcohol Educators are to ensure that they maintain a drug and alcohol free environment at all times when children are in care.

Being an Educator

In Family Day Care, Educators are required to provide and maintain quality child care in a safe, healthy, nurturing and friendly home environment.

This responsibility includes adhering to the Education and Care Services National Regulations, Law and Quality Standards, Work Health and Safety Legislation, service policies and procedures, participation in ongoing professional development providing parents with ongoing information about their child’s daily development.

Educators must fulfil administration and business requirements of a self employed person.

You need to ensure you

Provide and maintain an environment that is safe , hygienic and inclusive
Maintain confidentiality
Provide and evaluate a developmentally appropriate program that recognises the children’s individual needs and interests as identified in observations
Undertake appropriate documentation on children’s developmental needs as required
Are solely responsible for the children at all times, and cannot delegate this responsibility to any other household members, unless they are registered as an Assistant Educator under the Scheme’s policies and procedures.
Maintain the home and ensure compliance with Work Health & Safety legislation and service policy requirements.

Educator’s Family

As the words ‘Family Day Care’ indicate, caring for children in your home involves the whole family. If you have a partner, children or other family members living in your house you should, as a family, talk over your plans before starting because members of the Educator’s family can play an important role in the children’s experience.

It is essential that Educators family member:

Adhere to the Education and Care Services National Regulations and service policies such as non smoking and alcohol/drug free home whilst children are in care.
Interact in a positive manner with children and their families.
Ensure all behaviour guidance is implemented by the Educator · Maintain confidentiality at all times
Ensure that only child appropriate TV programs, videos, games and books are accessible to Family Day Care children.

Remember that all visitors to the home who are 13 years and over are required to sign the visitor’s book.
Recognise the need for privacy when the Educator is discussing issues with staff and/or parents.
Ensure that dress is appropriate at all times when children are in care.
Treat everyone – staff, parents and children with respect.

Requirements

Outdoor Play Area

Safe and secure play area with fencing to a height of 1.2m
Stairs and balconies have enclosed railings and barriers
Sufficient natural and man-made shade available
Pool compliance certificate available

Indoor Play Area

Clean, hygienic environment Sufficient space available
Appropriate toys and equipment
Sleeping facilities clean and adequate (one child per mat/cot)
Cots must comply with Australian Safety Standards Sleeping mattress or mats surface must have a water proof protector

Play Equipment

Equipment over 600mm high but under 1metre must have a risk assessment completed in consultation with a Family Day Care Coordinator to determine its suitability and safety for play Equipment over 1 metre must comply with the Kidsafe requirement for surfacing and be filled with certified playground surfacing material.

www.kidsafensw.org

Safety Glass

Safety glass Australian Standard: AS1288-2006 or all accessible glass has a protective film or barriers installed (This requires a statement from an authorised glazier).

Emergencies

Smoke detectors/fire blankets/fire extinguisher installed, tested and tagged by an authorised agent
Electrical safety/Residual current device available and tested for compliance
First Aid kit (main) and portable first aid kit
Asthma kit includes breather mask and puffer

Dangers

Poisons/medicines locked away
Safe entry and exits
Smoke free area both indoors and outdoors
Separate pet enclosure
Safety plugs in all power points
Hot water tapes need to be either regulated or have safety caps or disabled

Transport & Other

Australian standards approved restraints available for each child
Restraints have been fitted by an RTA authorised agent
If renting, written landlord acknowledgement is required

Application Process: 7-stage process

Stage 1

Application Complete Expression of Interest form include: Copies of resume and medical certificate and return to Coordination Unit

Stage 2

Interview Contact made by Coordination Unit to arrange an interview Reference checks will be conducted upon successful interview if unsuccessful you will be contacted by Managing Coordinator

Stage 3

Assessment Initial Workplace Risk Assessment of premises to be conducted Written summary sent including changes or additions that are required Landlord notification letter provided (if applicable)

Stage 4

Orientation Information provided:

Education and Care Services National Regulation
National Quality Standards
Family Day Care Policies and Procedures
Compliance booklet
Work Health and Safety
Child Development, planning and creating engaging environments
Insurance requirements

Administration Procedures
Benefits of Play
Marketing your business Visit to various Educator environments soft and hard copy of all relevant policies, procedures and forms
Laminated copies of all relevant documents for display e.g. hand washing, nappy, changing, CPR, Asthma management etc

Stage 5

Business Items Provide to the Coordination Unit copies of: First Aid, Asthma, and Anaphylaxis Qualifications
Working with Children Check for Educator and all adult household members received
National Police Check for Educator and adult household members received
Public Liability Certificate (copy received)
Provide coordination Unit with fee schedule

All documents identified at Workplace Risk Assessment provided e.g.
Fire Protection Equipment (copy of invoice)
RTA Check (restraint installation and inspection report),
Glass Safety Audit (copy of audit),
Electrical Safety (RCD check copy), Pool Compliance Certificate.

Stage 6

Registration Final Workplace Risk assessment conducted 3 month
Educator agreement signed Administration training (provided in-home)
Registration certificate provided Laminated copy of
Prescribed Information provided

Stage 7

Operation Coordinator will visit on first day of operation Questions and answers to any issues/queries provided

What can Early Education FDC offer you?

Continued support from the moment you start your journey as a Family Day Care Educator with us
Regular monitor and support visits: we visit you weekly, moving to fortnightly when you are feeling confident and then onto monthly monitor and support visits
Our friendly administration staff offer continual training, from small group trainings to individual training to suit your needs
We process your attendance records on a fortnightly basis
Our coordination staff are always a call away if you are needing support, from settling new children into your service, guidance with behavioural management, child development programming
We conduct scheme meetings to keep you up to date with current procedures and policies whilst offering a hands on learning approach for you to keep up to date with new learning theories
We gain feedback from Educators through our meeting giving each of our Educators a voice within our service

Who are Family Day Care Educators?

Family Day Care Educators are people who:

Are able to adequately care and supervise children and believe that all children in care are individual
Aim to provide play based age appropriate activities
Aim to support and assist the children and families so as to meet their individual needs.
Promote positive relationships with the child and his or her parents • are recruited, trained and monitored by the Family Day Care Coordination Unit
Have access to training to develop their skills and knowledge of children and child care practices
Represent the cultural diversity that exists within the community
Have a minimum qualification of Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care and a current First Aid, Asthma & Anaphylaxis and CPR Certificate
Provide a safe and secure child care service in their own home environment

Child Protection

EARLY EDUCATION Child Protection framework supports children and young people having safe and happy experiences in our community, accessing our facilities and in the care of our services. The Policy informs Educators, FDC Educators, volunteers, students and contractors of their responsibilities when working with children. This ensures FDC implements best practice approaches to child protection, including implementing processes for the prompt and confidential response to all allegations involving a child or young person FDC is committed to the ongoing education of children, young people and families, staff, volunteers, contractors and key stakeholders about their rights.

Responsibilities and mandated around child protection FDC child protection documents including the Child Protection Policy can be accessed www.earlyeducationfdcschem.com

Registered Educators

Registered educators are required to sign an agreement to abide by the regulations and any additional guiding principles, policies and procedures adopted by EEFDC and/or the service. Failure to meet EEFDC guiding principles, policies and/or procedures could lead to de-registration.

From January 2014, registered Educators may care for a maximum of 7 children aged under 13 years of age, including their own, but never more than 4 children who are preschool age or under. The number of children that an Educator can provide care for may be less than this, dependant on the home safety audit.

It is expected that Educators complete a level of training as approved by the coordination unit. All Educators and adult household members over the age of 18 years are required to provide a valid “Working with Children Check number” before being accepted as an Educator. It is an offence under NSW legislation for prohibited persons to apply for or otherwise attempt to obtain, undertake or remain in child-related employment.

What equipment and resources will you need?

As you will be caring for children of various ages, you will need equipment for all stages of development. Most Educators start out with equipment from a required list before commencing care. Resources then build up over time.

As you purchase toys and equipment, it is important to remember that children need a variety of activities throughout the day. Be sure to have at least:

Art and craft material
Construction toys
Infant toys
Books, puzzles and threading material
Accessible shelving for children
Child sized table and chairs • Dress-ups – bags, shoes hats etc. Dress up clothes of any type and props from the home children can use
Items to build with – this could be as simple as empty boxes
Things to make music with or listen to music on
Space to crawl, walk, run, roll and throw a ball
A place to play with water or sand without worrying about a mess being made
First aid kit
Fire safety equipment You do not need to spend a lot of money on toys and equipment if you set up your home creatively.

What will the service expect of me?

To conduct the service according to the National Regulations and Law, guidelines and guiding principles, policies and procedures of EARLY EDUCATION FDC SERVICE.
To be reliable, flexible and cooperative.
To keep the coordination unit staff informed of all changes in your care.
To conduct your service as a small business.
To respect children’s and parent’s confidentiality and not to discuss them with other Educators or parents.
To regularly attend Educator training and in services.
To allow the coordination unit staff into your home while children are in care. Educators can determine their work hours but core availability between 7am – 6pm is preferred. The availability of children to suit your hours is dependent on the community needs. The more flexible you are as an Educator, the quicker your vacancies will be filled. Emergency and weekend care is a need in our community and being able to offer care over the weekend or evening for shift workers is favourable.