The notion of the ECC Policy Handbook originally came about because of frequent requests to the ECC by its members for advice and sample documentation for policies. From a simple policy list the project grew somewhat to include other useful information on policy background and theory. The objective of the Handbook is to provide the governors, managers and staff of early childhood education centres with a professional and practical resource that will enable them to develop and effectively use policy documentation, especially those required by statutory authorities. The resource includes a standard development and review process, a practical format and suitable sample words/phrases. The average size of an independent centre in New Zealand is approximately 37 licensed places; with 4-5 staff. Often there is one person responsible for management, in some cases it is a committee, which stays in place for only 1-2 years. The vast majority are single-centre enterprises and they are solely responsible for compliance with a vast range of statutory requirements and official documentation; in many cases as much as large schools. Many centres struggle, under limited resources, to achieve compliance consistently and few are capable of developing their own management resources to a high standard. Being by nature independent, they rarely have the opportunity to collaborate intensively with others or to develop a wide range of expertise or to use resources that larger organisations have. The ECC is a support network made up of independent owners and managers who, for the benefit of their own sector, have created an infrastructure specifically to research, develop, acquire and disseminate information and resources to overcome the inherent weakness of being small scale and independent enterprises. The first edition of the handbook contains information on policy theory, advisory information and pro forma statements on most of the policies and practice statements required under Education (Early Childhood Centre) Regulations and under the Charter Statement; Statement of Desirable Objectives and Practices (DOPs). Others, which are not mandatory but suggested good practice, may be added at a later stage; the primary purpose is to assist all centres to at least achieve compliance with the many statutory requirements for policy statements. Some of the many benefits of the ECC Policy Handbook include: - Handy folder for policy statements and related policy papers;
- Useful comprehensive reference on policy requirements;
- Useful sample policy texts;
- Useful for staff induction and development;
- Provides professional compendium for parents;
- Provides useful format and process for Committees and managers;
- Comparable standards that new staff may be familiar with;
- Security of knowing another 800+ Centres in NZ are using it;
- Resource is subject to on-going development and updates by ECC;
- Useful standard document for discussion at area meetings;
- Assurance of policy consistency and industry acceptance;
- Evidence to third parties of quality intentions and practices.
The ECC Policy Handbook has been developed for the exclusive use of members of the Early Childhood Council, with one copy of the Handbook sent free of charge to all ECC Members. |
