Activity Listthefirst10thingsyoucanthinkofatyourservicethatwoulddemonstratethatpracticeisembeddedinserviceoperation?

Activity ExceedingNQStheme2is:Practiceisinformedbycriticalreflection.

Inpairs,listfivepracticesthathavechangedatyourservicebasedoncriticalreflection.

Activity Formsmallgroupsanddrawoneofthefollowingtopicsfromahat:

• LocalAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslandercommunities

• Supportservices• Sustainabilityorganisations

Inyourgroupcomeupwithwaysyourservicecouldmoremeaningfullyengagewiththesecommunitygroups?

Activity HowcouldyouusethecomplaintshandlingprocedureatyourservicetodemonstratepracticeagainstoneormoreoftheExceedingNQSthemes?

Activity

Ifyouweretosurveyallfamiliesusingtheservicewhatdoyouthinkwouldbethetopresponseiftheywereaskedhowtheyaremeaningfullyengagingwiththeservice?

Whatwouldbethevalueofknowingthisinformation?

Writethreequestionsaboutmeaningfulengagementyoucouldaskfamilies.

Whynotaskthemandseeiftheycomebackwiththeresponse/syouthoughttheywould.

Activity

PickastandardoftheNQSanddivideintopairsandpracticeinterviewingeachotheraboutservicepoliciesandproceduresrelevanttopracticewithinthatstandard.

E.g.Standard2.1Eachchild’shealthispromoted.

HowdoyourservicepoliciesandproceduressupportthethreeExceedingNQSthemesforthisstandardselected?

Activity

GointotheserviceandtakeapictureofsomethingyouthinkshowsevidenceofanyoftheExceedingNQSthemesinpracticeinrelationtoanystandardoftheNQS.

E.g.howthephysicalenvironmenthasbeenshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orcommunity.

Activity You’vebeenaskedtoleadadiscussionatthenextstaffmeetingaboutaimingforanExceedingNQSratingforQualityArea5.

Howwillyouapproachthisrequestandwhatresourcesmightyouuse?

Activity Eachpersontakeaturntoshareacriticalreflectionthathasshapedtheirpractice.

Duringanassessmentandratingvisithowdoyouthinkyoucouldsharethisinformationwiththeassessor/s?

Activity PartthreeoftheGuidetotheNationalQualityFrameworkincludesindicatorsforExceedingNQSforeachstandardoftheNQS.

PickastandardoftheNQS,andhavealookattheGuideforthatstandard,considertheindicatorsandthenlistexamplesofpracticeatyourservicethatreflectoralignwiththoseindicators.

Activity

AratingofExceedingNQSmeansgoing‘aboveandbeyond’whatisexpectedattheMeetingNQSlevelforastandard.

Listsomeofthewaysyouthinkgoing‘aboveandbeyond’supportsqualitypracticeattheserviceandbetteroutcomesforchildrenandfamilies?

Activity

Inpairs,explainhowyourserviceincorporateschildren’svoicesinregardtopractice:

• beingembeddedinserviceoperations

• informedbycriticalreflection• beingshapedmeaningful

engagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity.

Activity WhatarethethreeExceedingNQSthemes?

WhataresomeofthewaysthateachoftheExceedingNQSthemessupporthighqualitypracticeandoutcomes?

Activity If‘practice’isapplication,inwhatwayscouldyoudemonstrate/evidenceyourpracticetoanassessorduringanassessmentandratingvisit?

Activity

Describecriticalreflectionwithoutusingthewords‘criticalreflection’.

Activity

Brainstormalistofideasonwhatpracticeembeddedinserviceoperationsmeans?

Scenario Afamilyatyourservicehasrecentlyhadanewbaby.Theoldersiblingofthebabyattendsyourserviceacoupleofdaysaweek.

Theoldersibling’sbehaviourhaschangedandtheyarenowactingoutinaphysicallyaggressivewaytowardssomeoftheotherchildrenintheroom.

HowcouldyourapproachtothissituationalsodemonstratehowyouaremeetingsomeoftheexpectationsfromtheExceedingNQSthemes?

Scenario Aneducatorwantstobuildarelationshipwithalocalnursinghomebecausehergrandfatherisatthenursinghome.

Intermsofmeaningfulengagement,howdoyouapproachthis?

Thinkaboutwaysyoucouldbuildonthisideatocreateameaningfulengagementopportunityforthechildrenandfamiliesattheserviceaswellastheresidents?

Scenario

Therehasbeenacomplaintatyourservicethataneducatorinyourroomisabruptwhenraisingconcernsaboutchildrenwithfamilies.

Howmightyouapproachthis,andhowdoesthewayyouapproachitdemonstratethatpracticeis:

• beingembeddedinserviceoperations• informedbycriticalreflection• beingshapedmeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity.

Scenario Yourservicehasdecidedtotrialanewapproachtotheassessmentandplanningcycle.

Oneoftheroomleadersisopposedtothischangeashesaysthatitmeansthingsaren’tembeddedanymore.

Discusstheroomleader’sconcernsandwhychangedoesn’talwaysmeanthingsaren’tstillembedded?

Scenario YouareanewDirectorinaserviceandduringyourfirststaffmeetingtheeducatorscan’tagreeonareasforqualityimprovement.

Howcouldcriticalreflectionassistyoutosupporteducatorstomoveforward?

Scenario You’vebeenaskedtoconsiderhowfamiliesand/orthecommunitycouldmeaningfullyengageinrelationtoStandard4.1:Staffingarrangementsenhancechildren'slearninganddevelopment.

Whataresomestrategiesthatyoucouldconsidertodothis?

Scenario Aneducatorstatestoanothereducator,‘nothingisembeddedinthisplace’.

Howmightyourespond?

Whatstrategiesmightyouconsidertoaddressthis?

Scenario Duringanassessmentandratingvisittheassessoraskshowyou’vebeenabletoensurethatpracticehasremainedembeddedintheservicenotingthatyou’vehadthreeneweducatorsstartinginthelastcoupleofmonths.

Asateamyou’vebeenreflectingonwaysthatcriticalreflectioncanbedemonstratedbeyondjustwritingitalldown.

Whataresomeofthewaysyouthinkyoucandothis?

Scenario Scenario

Thelong-termDirector/NominatedSupervisoroftheserviceisleaving.Whatstrategiesmightyouconsidertoensurecontinuityofknowledge/trust/relationshipswithintheservice?

True or False? Thereisa‘recipe’forExceedingNQS.False.ServicesshoulddemonstrateExceedingNQSpracticeforanyoftheNQSstandardsinwaysthatsuittheirparticularoperatingenvironmentandapproachtopractice.

Duringaself-assessmentoftheserviceagainsttheNQSyouidentifythattherearesomeareasthatyoufeeldemonstratepracticeattheExceedingNQSlevel.

HowmightyouhighlighttheseinyourQualityImprovementPlan?

YourmostrecentassessmentandratingreportsuggestedthatforyourQualityImprovementPlanyoumightliketoconsiderwaysthatyoucanusecriticalreflectiontoextendonyourMeetingNQSresultforQualityArea3.Howmightyougoaboutthis?

Scenario

Scenario Yourservicehasbeenattemptingtoengagewithfamiliesusingpaperbasedfeedbackformswithlittlesuccess.

Whatstrategiesmightyouintroducetobetterensuremeaningfulengagementthatisshapingpractice?

Scenario

True or False? Beingabletodemonstratehowyou’veunsuccessfullytriedtomeaningfullyengagewithfamiliesand/orthecommunityisenoughtomeettheExceedingtheme?

False.ToreceiveanExceedingNQSratingforanyofthestandardsoftheNQSyouneedtobeabletodemonstratehowpracticeisshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity.

True or False?

AratingofExceedingNationalQualityStandardmeansgoing‘aboveandbeyond’whatisexpectedattheMeetingNQSlevelforastandardbutthereisnothingtotellyouwhattheymightlooklike.

False.TheGuidetotheNQSincludesguidancetoassistservicesandassessorstoconsiderifpracticedemonstratestheExceedingNQSthemesatthelevelrequiredforaratingofExceedingNQS.

True or False? IfyouhavereceivedaratingofMeetingNQStheassessmentandratingreportwillalsoindicateifoneortwooftheExceedingNQSthemeshavealsobeenmet.

True.Ifany,butnotall,oftheExceedingNQSthemeshavebeenmetitwillbeindicatedinthereport.IfallthreeExceedingNQSthemeshavebeenmettheratingforthatstandardwouldhavebeenExceedingNQS.

ExceedingNQSthemethreeconsidershowpracticeisshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity.

Makealistofwhois,orshouldbe,consideredpartofyourcommunity.

Followinganassessmentandratingvisit,theratingreporthighlightedthatitwashardfortheassessortoidentifywherecriticalreflectionhasinformedpracticeforthetwoQualityArea3standards.

Whatcouldyouincludeasagoal/sintheserviceQualityImprovementPlantoaddressthisissueandwhataresomestrategiesyoumightusetoachievethis?

Activity Activity

True or False?

TheQualityImprovementPlanisn’taboutplanningimprovementsinpracticetoachieveanExceedingNQSrating.

False.TheQualityImprovementPlancanbeusedtoidentifygoalsandoutcomestosupportimprovementplanningtoachieveExceedingNQSlevelpractice.

True or False? Duringanassessmentandratingvisit,anassessorwilljustrelyonyoutotellthemaboutyourExceedingNQSpracticeandhowyoumeetthethreeExceedingNQSthemesforeachstandard.

False.Assessorswillobservepractice,sightdocumentationanddiscusspracticethroughouttheassessmentvisittogatherevidenceagainsttheNQS,includingfordeterminingpracticeagainstthethreeExceedingNQSthemes.

Scenario YoujuststartedanewroleastheeducationalleaderandtheservicehasbeenratedExceedingNQSinallareasexceptQualityArea1.

Astheeducationalleaderyou’vebeenaskedtotaketheleadinplanningforbringingQualityArea1uptoanExceedingNQSlevel.

Howwouldyouplanforthis?

True or False?

ExceedingNQStheme3:Practiceisshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity,doesnotapplytothestandardsfromQualityArea4:Staffingarrangements.

False.TheExceedingNQSthemesapplytoall15standards,andallsevenQualityAreas,oftheNQS.

True or False?

YoucanstillhaveoneNQSelementasnotmetandstillgetratedExceedingNQSforthestandard.

False.AllelementsforastandardmustbemetbeforeconsiderationcanbegivenifthestandardistoberatedMeetingNQSorifallthreeExceedingNQSthemesaremet,ExceedingNQS.

True or False? Youdon’tneedtothinkaboutthecriticalreflectionExceedingNQSthemeforStandard1.3(assessmentandplanning),ormeaningfulengagementasanExceedingNQSthemeforStandard6.1(Supportiverelationshipswithfamilies)astheyarealreadypartofthestandard.False.TheExceedingNQSthemesneedtobereflectedinpracticeswhichextendbeyondtheMeetingNQSstandards.

ServicesneedtodemonstrateExceedingNQSpracticeinthesamewayastheExceedingNQSindicatorsintheGuidetotheNationalQualityFramework?

False.TheguidanceisprovidedtoassistservicesandassessorstoconsiderifpracticeforthestandarddemonstratestheExceedingNQSthemes.Theindicatorsprovidedarenotexhaustive,andservicesmaydemonstrateExceedingNQSpracticeinavarietyofwaysthatsuittheirparticularoperatingenvironmentandapproachtopractice.

Youneedtocriticallyreflectontheinfluencesonyourpractices.

True.Whenpracticeisinformedbycriticalreflection,educatorsconsider,question,analyseandre-evaluatepractice.Thissupportsacultureofongoingself-assessmentthathelpsidentifycontinuousimprovementandimprovedoutcomesforchildren,familiesandeducators.

True or False? True or False?

True or False?

QualityArea1canberatedatExceedingNQSifonestandardisratedatMeetingNQSandtwostandardsareratedatExceedingNQS.

False.ForQualityArea1allthreestandardsmustberatedExceedingNQStoberatedExceedingNQS.

True or False? Fortheretobemeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunityallfamiliesand/orthecommunityneedtobeinvolvedinalldecisionsintheservice.

False.Thisthemerecognisesthathighqualitypracticeisinformedbyandtailoredtotheuniquestrengthsandneedsofchildren,familiesandthecommunity.Anunderstandingoftheuniquenessofchildren,familiesandthecommunityisincreasedandsupportedthroughmeaningfulengagement.

True or False? ToachievearatingofExceedingNQSforanystandard,allthreeExceedingNQSthemesneedtobeevidentforthatstandard.

True.ToberatedExceedingNQSinanystandardallthreeExceedingNQSthemesmustbedemonstratedforthatstandard.

Multiple Choice

Whenpracticeis‘embedded’foranystandardoftheNQSitmeansthatitis:

a) Usualeverydaypracticeforthespecificstandard

b) Consistentlyandfrequentlydemonstratedacrosstheservice

c) Understoodbyalld) Evidentinmanyways,bothvisiblyand

invisiblyacrossalloftheservice’spractices,systemsandoperations.

e) Alloftheabove

True or False?

AserviceQualityImprovementPlan(QIP)isn’taboutExceedingNQSthemesorratings.

False.TheQIPisanopportunitytoshareExceedingNQSpracticeidentifiedinyourserviceself-assessmentagainsttheNQSaswellassetgoalsandplanforthoseareaswhereimprovementsarerequiredtomeettheExceedingNQSbenchmark.

Discussion Point Thinkingcreatively,whataresomeofthewaysyoucouldhavemeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesinthetwostandardsfromQualityArea4:Staffingarrangements?

IfpracticeisembeddedinserviceoperationsforQualityArea4:

a) Eacheducatorisawareofandimplementsthepracticeconsistently

b) Mosteducatorsimplementthepractice

c) OneFDCeducatordoesn’thavetodothepracticebecausetheydon’tyetknowaboutit

d) ThereisonestandardratedExceedingNQSsoitcarriesovertobothstandardsintheQualityArea

WhichofthefollowingindicatorsforExceedingNQStheme3couldassistservicesandauthorisedofficersidentifypracticethatisshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orcommunity?

a) Familieshaveaccesstoasuggestionbox

b) Educatorstalktofamilieswhentheyarriveattheservicefordropoff.

c) Thevoicesoffamiliesarevaluedandtakenintoconsideration

d) Informationaboutfamiliesiscollectedatenrolment

Multiple Choice Multiple Choice

Multiple Choice

EvidencedemonstratinghowaservicemeetstheNQSwillbecollectedbyanassessorduringanassessmentandratingvisit.WhichofthefollowingmethodsisusedtocollectevidenceagainstthethreeExceedingNQSthemes?

a) Observepracticeb) Discusspracticec) Sightdocumentationd) Alloftheabove

Discussion Point TheGuidetotheNationalQualityFrameworktellsusthatguidancefortheExceedingNQSratingisprovidedtoassistservicesandassessorstoconsiderifpracticeisatthelevelrequiredforaratingofExceedingNQS.Theindicatorsprovidedarenotexhaustive,andservicesmaydemonstrateExceedingNQSpracticeinavarietyofways.

Whyisitimportantthattheindicatorsarenotexhaustiveorprescriptive?

Discussion Point Whatdoyouseeasthedifferencesbetweenactivityevaluationandcriticalreflection?

Scenario

Anewfamilyatyourservicehasenrolledtheirsixweekoldbaby.Theyhaveaskedthat,justlikeathome,theirbabysleepwithacomforttoyandontheirtummy.ThispracticeisagainstSafeSleepingguidelines,andyourservicepolicy.

Howmightyouapproachthis?

HowmightthewayyouapproachthisreflectthethreeExceedingNQSthemes?

Multiple Choice

Whenpracticeisembeddedinserviceoperationsthismeans:

a) Itisusualpracticeb) Ithastohappenatleastoncea

monthc) Itisjustevidentatthetimeofthe

assessmentandratingsvisitd) Itisonlytheresponsibilityof

permanenteducators

Discussion Point WhataresomeoftheresponsesyouwouldexpectaneducatoratyourservicetogiveifanassessoraskedabouthowExceedingNQStheme1,practiceisembeddedinserviceoperations,isdemonstratedfortheStandard5.2:Eachchildissupportedtobuildandmaintainsensitiveandresponsiverelationships?

Howdoyouknowthatpracticeinyourservicereflectsyourlocalcontextand/orlocation?

WhataresomeoftheresponsesyouwouldexpectaneducatoratyourservicetogiveifanassessoraskedabouthowExceedingNQStheme2,practiceisinformedbycriticalreflection,isdemonstratedfortheStandard3.2:Theserviceenvironmentisinclusive,promotescompetenceandsupportsexplorationandplay-basedlearning?

Discussion Point Discussion Point

Multiple Choice

ServicesthatdemonstratethattheyareExceedingNQS:

a) Dosoinwaysthatarerelevanttothechildren,familiesandcontextoftheservice

b) Haveasignificantnumberofexpensiveresourcesacrosstheservice

c) Areabletoembedeverythingquicklyd) Havebeenoperatingforalongtime

Discussion Point Whatdoesitmeanwhenpracticeisembedded?

Whataresomeoftheindicatorsinyourserviceofembeddedpractice?

Discussion Point Whataspectsofyourservice’sphilosophy,policiesandproceduressupportprogramandpracticesthatexceedtheNQS?

Discussion Point

Howdoescriticalreflectionsupporttheteamtomakewellinformeddecisionsandplans?

Discussion Point

WhataresomeoftheresponsesyouwouldexpectaneducatoratyourservicetogiveifanassessoraskedabouthowExceedingNQStheme3,practiceisshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity,isdemonstratedfortheStandard1.1:Theeducationalprogramenhanceseachchild’slearninganddevelopment?

Discussion Point Theeducationalleaderhasanimportantroletosupporteducatorstoreflectonprogramsandpractices.

DiscussstrategieseducationalleaderscouldimplementtosupportpracticethatexceedstheNQS.

Whatdoesitmeantoengagemeaningfullywith:

• Families?• Children?

Whatmightthislooklikeinpractice?

Howdoescriticalreflectionoccur:

• Acrossyourserviceteam?• Individually?

Howarechildreninvolvedinthereflectionontheprogram,theirlearningspaces,andhowtheirvoicesarebeingheardandincorporated?

Discussion Point Discussion Point

Discussion Point

ExceedingNQStheme3statesthatpracticeisshapedbymeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunity.

Whatdoyouthinkmakesengagementwithfamiliesand/orcommunitymeaningful?

Discussion Point DiscussopportunitieseducatorscurrentlyhavetoengageinalivelycultureofprofessionalinquirytosupportcontinuousimprovementtoachievepracticeattheExceedingNQSlevel.

Discussion Point HowdoesyourservicemeaningfullyrepresentyourlocalAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderperspective/contextinyourprogram?

HowdoyouforgestrongcollaborativepartnershipswithlocalAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderorganisationsandcommunities?

Whatcanyourservicecontributetothosecommunities?

Discussion Point

ToachievetheExceedingNQStheme1educators,theeducationalleader,andtheco-ordinatordemonstrateadeepunderstandingoftherequirementsofthestandard,conceptandthecomponentelements,andacommitmenttohighqualitypractice.Howdoes,orcan,yourinductionprocesshighlighttoeducatorstheexpectationsarounddemonstratingacommitmenttohighqualitypractice?

Discussion Point

Standard7.2:Effectiveleadershipbuildsandpromotesapositiveorganisationalcultureandprofessionallearningcommunity.Whoatyourservicecoulddiscusshowpracticeforthisstandardisinformedbycriticalreflection?Whataresomeexamplesofpracticetheymightprovide?

Discussion Point TheNationalQualityStandardandAssessmentandRatingchapteroftheGuidetotheNationalQualityFrameworkprovidesExceedingNQSindicatorsforeachoftheExceedingNQSthemesforeverystandardoftheNQS.

Howcouldyouusetheseindicatorstoplanforqualityimprovementinyourservices?

Whataresomeofthechallengesyourservicefaceswhenattemptingtomeaningfullyengagefamiliesand/orthecommunity?

Whataresomesolutionstothosechallenges?

Whatstrategiesdoesyourserviceimplementtoensuremeaningfulengagementwithfamiliesand/orthecommunityisreciprocallybeneficial?

Discussion Point Discussion Point

Discussion Point

WhatisthedifferencebetweendemonstratingpracticeforElement1.3.2(criticalreflection)andExceedingNQStheme2:practiceisinformedbycriticalreflection?

HowdoestheguidanceforElement1.3.2differfromthatforExceedingNQSforStandard1.3intheGuidetotheNationalQualityFramework?

Discussion Point ExceedingNQStheme1asksthatatastandardleveleducators,theeducationalleader,andtheco-ordinatordemonstrateadeepunderstandingoftherequirementsofthestandard,conceptandthecomponentelements,andacommitmenttohighqualitypracticeatalltimes.Howcancasualortemporaryeducatorsbesupportedtodevelopthisunderstanding?

Discussion Point ArethereeducatorsinyourteamwhocouldstepuptobetheExceedingNQSchampionsinyourservice?

WhatattributeswouldcontributetosuccessasanExceedingNQSchampion?

Discussion Point

HowisthevalueandinfluenceofExceedingNQSpracticecommunicatedtofamiliesinyourservice?

Discussion Point

Chooseoneofthe15standardsoftheNQS,thenasagroup,documenthowyouensuretheservice’sapproachtoqualitypracticeforthisstandardisdemonstratedagainstthethreeExceedingNQSthemes.Identifyopportunitiestoincludesomenewgoalsinyourqualityimprovementplan.