Assessment/communication with parents by Childcare

[Razzberry]

Im just wondering if the childcare centres you use give you a portfolio of your childs work? or if you have regular access to their observations and programming for your child?

Im really starting to think the place my daughter goes is a dud!

[NicNac]

Yes, yes and yes. They also do a parent teacher night- we thought that was pretty funny for an 18 month old.
The amount of work they put into the portfolio is amazing- don't know where they find the time!

[Mrs P]

Yep, we get a pretty big portfolio at Xmas time. Lots of art and craft, and often there's photos of her doing the actual activity attached to the item within the portfolio. DD is 2.5 yrs.

[~Hestia~]

I never got anything from Moo's centre. I have just taken him out and asked for his scrapbook (that we were asked to provide initially) and there was only 4 art type things stuck in it. He had been going for 9 months so did expect a little more.

The centre my niece and nephew go to is excellent in that regard. They have a daily communication book that goes home with each child, they also do up a portfolio with photos and captions and little stories to go along with it all.

[AliBaby]

We get a very detailed portfolio with recorded observations, photos, artwork, examples of cutting, writing, etc in it. We also get two reports per year and parent /teacher night. I also have regular chats with staff. I feel very informed. Change if you aren't happy.

Nicnac- I agree, the time spent on the portfolios is just incredible and they are such a Lovely keepsake of Preschool years.

[Traveller]

Yes, we got one at Christmas plus regular work sent home throughout the year. There was also a lot of work displayed around the room that was clearly labeled so there was much to admire.

[Razzberry]

I am an Early Childhood teacher but went straight from uni into the school system, so I forget a lot about the early childhood industry.

I have a bad feeling the centre my daughter attends is dodgy. Her name is down for a new centre which is opening in a few weeks, however, I want to have a meeting with the director and tell her my concerns as I don't think other parents have no idea that they are not getting quality care for their children.

Their was absolutely no portfolio/assessment etc given to me at the end of the year. My daughter has been attending since may for 1 day a week. When I questioned them about not getting a portfolio I was told different things by different staff and then I was told, no we don't do portfolios but we will get a usb stick with some photos of your daughter to you in the last week (this didn't happen).
To me even if they gave me a usb stick with some photos is in no way giving me any idea of how my child is going.

I filled in a goals form in June for her and I thought we would get an evaluation from this - nope!

There are many other issues, including my daughter not having a pocket to put her hat in the entire year even though I reminded them each week - doesnt help a child fit in when every other child has their name and photo on a pock for their hat!

So does anyone know what the requirements are in regards to letting parents know about their child's progress? We are in NSW.

[MrsFabuloso]

None of that sounds in accordance with national guidelines. As to see their policies on their procedures regarding keeping portfolios/children's observations. They should have some sort of way they keep their information on the children which parents can look at.

[lisaandshaun]

Here in Victoria we are to document childrens learning as often as possible, our director likes us to have at least three learning stories/observations/follow ups a month. this is depended on how often the child is in care.
I find it weird that there isnt any documentation at all. Is there a weekly program? what age group is your child in?

[Razzberry]

I hope there is a weekly program. I have asked before about their programming and observations but they are always very vague. I think I need to be more pushy. She has been in the 3-5 year old room since July, though she only turned 3 30th Sept.

[AliBaby]

From your other thread, it sounds like they aren't following national guidelines at all.

[Catastrophic]

Big Portfolio at the end of the year...

and also a daily report that is written in a book and has pictures demonstrating what the children have done for that day.

[nickle730]

We get a written report twice a year on Miss P's progress - all amazingly fantastically good, I wonder if they every say 'your one year old is a dud"!! There are daily reports in the room which we can look at at pick up which usually involve all the children and tell us what they have been up to. The staff are very approachable and I feel confident that I can always ask them how my DD is going and if there are any issues. Miss P is only in CC once a week, so I sometimes feel that I should have her there more often to take full advantage of the great staff!! I also feel that the staff actually value Miss P as an individual and know her idiosyncrasies and that is far more important to me than the reporting. I don't think I could leave her somewhere she was just another kid.

[lisaandshaun]

There doesnt need to be one on display but there needs to be proof that they are following childrens interests and strengths and where they can prove that they are using intentional teaching to 'teach' the children required skills.
do they have a what we did today book at all?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

It is odd that there was nothing sent home for you to peruse. I am sure they have some method of documentation and programming as that is the basis of the curriculum. It is even harder now NOT to have some sort of documentation procedure in place with the new national standards and early years learning framework. I would suggest you request a meeting with the manager and get her to run you through the procedures that the educators have to do in regards to observation, documentation, planning and how they store it. You have every right to be shown through your child's file ( they might not call it a portfolio) and if they have nothing I would report them to your local department.

[Floweryfields]

There is now a National Quality Framework - so regardless of what state you are in, all centres should be following the same rules. The problem is, while the NQF is specific in what it requires, it is quite unspecific in how centres are expected to represent that.
Eg. the framework says centres must document a child's learning - it doesn't say how you must do that. Yes the majority of us are using portfolios as part of our documentation, but it doesn't say that's the way it must be done. I believe a USB with a few photos is not documenting a child's learning at all. I certainly believe a great series of photos plays a vital PART of documenting learning but on it's own is just photos.
It also says that the documentation must be available for parents to view whenever they want to - so if you ask to see it, they should be able to give it to you to look at then and there.
I personally find the ambiguity of the NQF quite annoying - if there were a few more clear statements surrounding programming and documenting, it would be a great help to centres.

From the NQS guide:

Element 1.1.4 The documentation about each child’s program and progress is
available to families

Element 1.2.1 Each child’s learning and development is assessed as part of an
ongoing cycle of planning, documenting and evaluation.

An ongoing cycle of planning, documenting and evaluating children’s learning underpins the
educational program and involves educators in critically thinking about what is offered and why.
Planning involves observing, gathering and interpreting information about children to inform
the preparation of environments and experiences that engage them and are meaningful for
them. It also involves reflecting on and documenting children’s experiences and learning.
Written plans, records of child assessment and evaluations underpin practice with children
and families and enhance the accountability and professionalism of the service. Documenting
children’s experiences and their responses to the environment makes children’s learning visible
to children, educators and families and promotes shared learning and collaboration.
Working in partnership with families, educators use the learning outcomes to guide their
planning for children’s learning. To engage children actively in learning, educators identify
children’s strengths and interests, choose appropriate teaching strategies and design the
learning environment. Educators carefully assess learning to inform further planning.

There doesnt need to be one on display but there needs to be proof that they are following childrens interests and strengths and where they can prove that they are using intentional teaching to 'teach' the children required skills.
do they have a what we did today book at all?

From the above quote - I've underlined the section, I believe planning should be displayed.

[wysiwyg]

We got portfolios at the end of the year (we now have to return them temporarily for some assessment that is taking place - it isn't possible that this is what is happening at your center?). We can look at these at any point in the year they are in a cabinet near the bags area - but do you know what - I have never looked (enjoyed seeing at end of year but these days as in 3-5 room and they have access to drawing materials all day I get at least 4 drawings coming home a day). We get a written report and parents evening think once a year. Every day there is a board up where there is a brief write up of the day with photos (not all children feature everyday but you get the gist of what is going on). The parents evenings and reports are funny things really because if there was an issue would you want them to wait to parents evening or report time to tell you - probably not.

To be honest I think the reporting is over the top, especially for the under 3's - I would rather any time spent on doing that was spent with the children or preparing activities. I rate the center based on how happy my two seem at the end of the day, what I see on display in the rooms, how the staff are interacting with the kids and what they seem to know about each child. If I want to know anything I just ask them, and do a general how is she going about once a month at least. The year before school it might be more important to have more detail in terms of school readiness I suppose.

Everyone used to have communication books but they have scrapped them for the 3 to 5 year olds - using a list on the wall instead. I am quite pleased about it, it takes less time for them meaning more time spent with children and I rarely used to look at it anyway. DD can tell me most things I want to know now anyway - she seems to learn quite a lot about the running of childcare centres - explaining to me which children are vegetarian and what they can eat, what clothes you are and aren't allowed and what temperature is to hot to be outside "Mum it was 35 grees today so we couldn't play outside".

[Frangipani Lou]

I'll come back with a detailed response ASAP.
There are requirements about you having access to the documentation on your child's learning and development.