Early Childhood Teacher Interim Policy. March 2006 (Updated Sept 2008)

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1 Early Childhood Teacher Interim Policy March 2006 (Updated Sept 2008)

2 Background to Policy The Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) Interim Policy was introduced in 2002 to provide an interim measure to assist licensees who were experiencing genuine difficulty in recruiting suitably qualified persons to fill the position of teaching staff member required by clause 52 of the Children s Services Regulation 2004 and to help increase the supply of qualified early childhood teachers. The Policy was reviewed by a cross-sectoral early childhood reference group which was convened in October 2005 and the Policy was revised as a result of that review. This document sets out the revised Policy, which took effect on 27 March Enquiries Enquiries about the ECT Interim Policy 2006 can be made to DoCS Central Licensing and Regulatory Support Branch on (02) or (toll fee) or cslincensing@community.nsw.gov.au. Making an application Applications for approval under the Policy must be made on the ECT Interim Policy application form, which you can get from DoCS Website. Completed application forms must be sent with all required documents to: Director, Central Licensing and Regulatory Support Children s Services Directorate NSW Department of Community Services Locked Bag 4028 ASHFIELD NSW 2131 September 2008

3 Policy on alternative recruitment arrangements for licensed children s services where a suitably trained early childhood teacher is unavailable The intention of this policy is to: provide an interim measure to assist licensees experiencing difficulty in recruiting suitably qualified persons to fill the position of Teaching Staff Member under clause 52 (1) of the Children s Services Regulation 2004 (the Regulation); and increase the supply of qualified early childhood teachers in NSW. If an approval is granted to a licensee under this policy, the approved staff member is taken to be approved for the purposes of Clause 52(4) of the Children s Services Regulation 2004, provided that the conditions of the approval, and all undertakings and assurances given by the applicant licensee, are complied with. The provision of false or misleading information is an offence under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 No 157 and will result in immediate revocation of an approval, in addition to any penalties that may apply under the Act. ELIGIBLE PERSONS The policy applies to persons: holding a Diploma in Community Services (Children s Services) or an Associate Diploma of Social Science (Child Studies) from a Registered Training Organisation, who is enrolled or intending to enrol in an approved early childhood teaching course or approved by the Department of Education and Training to be an Infants/Primary teacher, who is enrolled or intending to enrol in an approved early childhood teaching course or who is enrolled or intending to enrol in a course appearing on the Approved List and who has successfully had competencies (as listed in Tab 1) assessed by an approved assessor employed by a Registered Training Organisation. LICENSEE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE APPROVAL Such persons may have their training and experience approved under the Regulation for the purpose of filling a Teaching Staff Member position where the licensee can demonstrate that:

4 advertisements for a suitably qualified staff member meets the following criteria: - at least one of the advertisements must be published in a local (relevant regional) newspaper or metropolitan newspaper; - If internet advertising is used, it must be posted with a major employment website continually for a minimum two week period with an optional link to the service s own website; - Bulk advertising in a newspaper or on the internet (on a major employment website), by a multiple provider, or an association, or an employment agency is acceptable; - Any advertisement (either in the press or on the internet) for early childhood teachers must include: service name, service type, suburb, and details of a contact person for further information. they have offered pay and conditions in accordance with industry standards; they have received no applications from suitably qualified persons; they have put in place appropriate support arrangements for the proposed approval staff member; they have made arrangements to ensure the quality of the teaching program offered to children at the service; if the application is for a further approval under the Policy, that the conditions of any previous approval/s have been complied with; if the application is for re-approval of a staff member the subject of a previous approval, that the person has made satisfactory progress in their studies during the term of the previous approval; that in all other respects the service is compliant with the Regulation. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL Approvals under this Policy are subject to the following conditions: 1 Term of approval - Where the proposed staff member is enrolled and will complete an early childhood teaching course within a two year period, the approval period will be the term of study or two years, whichever is the lesser. - In other cases (that is, the proposed staff member is not yet enrolled or will not complete their course of study within two years) the approval period will be one year, and the licensee is required to commence recruitment action to employ a suitably qualified Teaching Staff Member three months before the conclusion of the approval period, so as to enable recruitment of a suitably qualified person by the end of the approval period, or (if recruitment is unsuccessful) to enable a further approval under the Policy to be obtained.

5 2 Satisfactory progression through study - Where the term of the approval is more than twelve months, the approval is subject to the licensee providing evidence of the approval staff member s satisfactory progression towards an approved early childhood teaching qualification each semester. 3 Quality of teaching program - The Department will review the teaching program including the written records to assess their appropriateness during the period of approval under this Policy. The approval will be revoked if: - The licensee cannot demonstrate that they have fulfilled any undertakings provided in support of their application for approval in relation to ensuring the quality of the teaching program; or - If at any time the program is not seen to be adequate. 4 Continuing compliance with the Children s Services Regulation 2004 If the service is in breach of the Children s Services Regulation 2004 during the term of the approval, the approval will be revoked. 5 Non-transferability The approval may only be given for the purpose of filling a Teaching Staff Member vacancy in the centre specified in the application for approval. The approval is not transferable to any other centre or licensee. 6 Service-specific conditions The Department may require further guarantees or conditions in accordance with the service s individual circumstances, including service compliance and complaints history. APPROVAL FOR CONTINGENCY PURPOSES If a licensee is already assisting a Diploma-qualified employee to study for an early childhood teaching qualification (beyond any studying staff approved under the Policy in order to meet regulatory requirements), then the licensee may propose that this studying employee may be approved to fill unexpected short term staff shortages, subject to the following conditions: - The service must have a satisfactory service history, with no recent or current regulatory non-compliance on record; - The employee must be Diploma-qualified and be enrolled in an approved course and have less than two years to completion; - The contingency approval staff member can be activated for study leave, sick days and rostered days for a maximum of four consecutive weeks up to a maximum of 6 weeks in a calendar year for each Teaching Staff Member. - The approval period is for a maximum two year period.

6 Tab 1 The National Competencies required for people intending to enroll in an Approved Course Key Competencies Knowledge of Child Development CHCFC301A Support the development of children Ability to manage a group of children and ability to guide positive behaviour in children CHCIC301D Interact effectively with children Knowledge of the principles of planning early childhood programs CHCPR510A Design, implement and evaluate programs and care routines for children Ability to provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment CHCPR502D Organise experiences to facilitate and enhance children s development Capacity to interact appropriately and effectively with children and families CHCIC201B Communicate with children CHCRF301D Work effectively with families to care for the child CHCRF511A Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate care for children