Our Policy Development Process

Bentleigh West Kindergarten’s Policies and procedures are reviewed regularly in order to meet changing needs and comply with legislation. While the National Regulations and the NQS do not specify how often this should occur, BWK has developed a Policy Review Table to provide guidance with timelines. This can be found in the blue folder in the foyer of the Kindergarten, on the parent noticeboard and published on the website. Please note these dates are subject to change.

Bentleigh West Kindergarten aims to have all policies up to date with current research and contemporary views on best practice and support a shared understanding of a service’s practices (NQS Element 7.1.2).

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Critical reflection on the effectiveness of current daily and professional practices can assist in determining how current practices might need to be changed, further developed or improved.

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As part of our self-assessment process, Bentleigh West Kindergarten must reflect on practice, policies and procedures against all seven Quality Areas of the National Quality Standard and related regulations prior to developing a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). You can find more information here www.acecqa.gov.au.

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As part of our self-assessment process, Bentleigh West Kindergarten must reflect on practice, policies and procedures against all seven Quality Areas of the National Quality Standard and related regulations prior to developing a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). You can find more information here www.acecqa.gov.au.

This self-assessment process may identify additional policies for review or development to support current practices and plans to improve quality. Questions to consider include:

• what regulatory and legislative requirements need to be covered

• has an incident occurred, or has a concern, complaint or issue been raised, that has prompted the need for a policy or the review of a policy

• is the current practice fair, equitable and effective

• have changing circumstances impacted on current policies e.g. has the organisation moved, increased or decreased in size

• has there been a change to the service’s model of service delivery or philosophy

• is there new legislation, regulation, awards, codes of practice and/or guidelines that will impact on policy, for example the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011

• have there been any changes to policy requirements in quality evaluation and improvement systems, such as the new National Quality Standard, and assessment and rating process, or any changes to funding guidelines

• what other policies are required for efficient and effective operation?

Policies currently under review

Questions for discussion/consideration about policies currently under review will include:

• does the existing policy meet current legislative and regulatory guidelines

• when was the policy last evaluated/reviewed

• how will any changes impact on children, families, educators, staff and management

• what are the advantages and/or disadvantages of the existing policy

• does the current policy reflect the:     o service’s philosophy, and any amendments

                                                        o long-term goals

                                                        o operational processes and procedures

                                                        o workplace protocols

                                                        o work practices

• does this policy reflect best practice

• what procedures are in place to support the implementation of the policy?

This process of research and analysis will identify components for inclusion in a new policy or those that require amendment in an existing policies.

(Sourced from https://elaa.org.au/)