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In this issue...
Best Practice Business
  • » The Secrets To Staff Retention
The key to attracting and retaining good staff is to introduce a range of strategies designed to foster a sense of self worth and success in employees.

In the high turnover environment of the child care sector it is worth doing all you can to hold on to high quality staff to avoid the high costs of recruitment and to build good team morale.

Read our article for some ideas on how you create a positive culture in your workplace and more importantly, encourage your number one asset; your people, to stick around.

» Read the article…


ChildcareJobs.com.au Australia’s foremost job board for the child care industry is soon to go live and is proud to sponsor this article on Staff Retention.


  • » Child Care Needs Building Blocks Not Stumbling Blocks
It is an optimistic time in early childhood, however, there are still challenges that must be confronted and overcome – for our children’s sake.

C&K’s Acting General Manager for Early Childhood Education and Care Lisa Palethorpe explains.

The research is indisputable. The quality of children’s services has a profound influence on children’s development and later adult life.

Brain research studies, initially led by Dr Fraser Mustard, have demonstrated the importance of the early years (birth to five years) and, in particular, how crucial these years are in regards to intelligence. This has major implications for early childhood services and adds huge responsibilities to staff working in these services.

Combine this with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) report revealing the high economic and social dividends resulting from investment in early childhood, and research conducted by Associate Professor Margaret Sims on stress levels of babies in child care and it is easy to see that high quality early childhood services with qualified early childhood professionals is not an option - it is a societal essential.

One of the biggest challenges facing the child care sector is the distinction between care and education. These two cannot be separated; children do not stop learning when they begin child care and start learning when they enter kindergarten or preschool.

» Read the full story…



  • » Quality of Staff More Important to Parents than Cost in Search for Child Care
Despite all the hype about increasing child care fees, a recent CareforKids.com.au® poll of nearly 500 people has shown that parents care more about the quality of staff and the standard of the environment and facilities than they do about the cost of care.

While increased fees are certainly a concern for most parents, our mini poll last month revealed most parents are more concerned about facilities, education programs and quality of staff than costs.

This is how the respondents to our online poll ranked the criteria:

  1. Quality of Staff
  2. Environment & Facilities
  3. Educational Programs
  4. Location
  5. Hours of Operation
  6. Cost
This is why the CareforKids.com.au® website provides so much more than just fee information.

Child care providers can now list fee and vacancy information, services, hours of operation and a host of other information while parents can access directional details, comments and feedback from other parents to help them make the best possible decision about child care for their family.

Make sure your child care service is maximising its exposure to the greatest number of parents by clicking here to update your details now.



Child Care People
  • » Interview with Sene Gide - Director of Boundary Lane Children’s Centre (University of Sydney)
The child care sector is characterised by people dedicated to creating exciting, nurturing and innovative learning environments for Australia’s youngest learners. Sene Gide definitely fits into this box.

Sene arrived in Sydney with little or no English, with the support of her family and teachers she qualified as a child care worker and is now the Director of a pioneering centre which prides itself on its diverse multicultural staff team.

As a Muslim woman with strong ideas about how early childhood education can improve community values, Sene's story makes for inspirational reading.

» Read the interview…


If you or someone you know deserves to be featured in this section drop us a line to editor@careforkids.com.au


Children & Child Care
  • » Rainy Day Activities - Boredom Busters for Cooped Up Kids
With the cold weather and short days of winter upon us, it’s worthwhile developing a grab bag of interesting activities to keep the children in your centre happily occupied when rainy days strike.

Undeniably the fresh air and physical nature of outdoor activities are extremely beneficial for children and an important part of their daily routine. When children are given the opportunity to play in sand, use climbing frames and run around they have the chance socialise, burn lots of energy and exercise their large muscles.

On those days when it rains non-stop and you are stuck inside for the whole day a little forward planning and some creativity should help you keep the children busy and free of the dreaded indoor-itis!

» Read the full story…


Tell us about your rainy day activities and you could win a copy of Justine Clarke's new CD 'Songs To Make You Smile'

Email your entries to competition@careforkids.com.au

Terms & Conditions


  • » Preventing Colds and ‘Flu
It’s the middle of winter and colds and 'flu are at their peak. Most children, whether in care or not, sport a runny nose at this time of year and most child carers spend the whole day with a tissue in hand ready to catch the never ending drips.

While child care centres will never be able to eradicate colds and ‘flu completely there are a number of steps you can take to reduce their spread. Use our article as a refresher to make sure you and your staff are doing all you can to keep the dreaded lurgies at bay.

» Read the full story…
July 2008

Roxanne Elliott
Hello,

Welcome to the July Edition of Child Care News, dedicated to supporting and informing child care professionals.

We’ve got some great content for you this month, including an article on staff retention, probably the biggest issue facing the child care sector.

Be sure to read the editorial by Lisa Palethorpe, C&K’s Acting General Manager for Early Childhood Education and Care on this very subject. Lisa has some clear opinions on how the early childhood sector needs to address this pressing issue.

We also have an interview with the Director from the Boundary Lane Children’s Centre, Sene Gide. Sene’s fascinating professional journey as a Muslim immigrant with very little English to her current position as the Director of an extremely successful inner-city child care centre makes for inspirational reading.

With winter well upon us and the never ending round of runny noses visible in most child care services at this time of year we have also included a refresher on dealing with winter colds and flu’.

With all this and lots more I sincerely hope you find this issue useful. Remember we welcome feedback, comments and article suggestions, so please feel free to send me an email at any time.

Until next time.

Roxanne Elliott
Founder
CareforKids.com.au®

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