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.