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How Daycare Regulations Help You
By Fiona
Lohrenz
Hate or fear
them daycare regulations are a necessity. Many of us already
feel swamped by our daily tasks, limitless red tape and view
the rules as a threat and an inconvenience. Sinking in a sea
of bureaucracy we tend to forget that this legislation
serves a good end. It has been formulated specifically to
protect those who are most at risk in our society.
Daycare
regulations, however, really only ensure that the minimum
standards of care are being met. Quality, early childcare
that is constantly improving and evolving can mean so much
more than the rulebook. I like to think of the regulations
and my inspection reports as guidelines, tools for updating
the service I provide.
I don’t view
them as a criticism of what I do but as a priceless workbook
that inspires and aids me to further improve upon what I am
doing. Consider what many companies pay consultants to
update their systems, procedures, quality control and
effectiveness. We get it all through our daycare regulations
and inspections.
I keep a copy
of the regulations for my region posted on the notice board
in the entryway to my day care, one on my desk and one in
the staff room. Following my inspections the report becomes
my bible, my ultimate focus until such time as I have
addressed every issue raised therein regardless of how
minor. Then, I post the report (you guessed it), in the
entryway, on my desk and in the staff room with an
‘Actioned’ sticker beside each suggested improvement.
In my
experience, the ‘points’ raised in the report tend to be
helpful tips towards operating more effectively and safely
on day to day issues rather than pointing out major
violations. I take these tips seriously and rush to
implement them because they are coming from a veritable font
of daycare regulations knowledge – your inspections team
have been there, done that and wear the tee shirt daily.
Fiona Lohrenz
is somewhat of an expert on child care having run her own
day care for a decade. She writes about her experiences on
her childcare website and shares even more on her 'Start a
Day Care Business' DVD
http://www.startchildcare.com You can find her at her
http://www.childcareonly.com
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Legal:
Please note
that the child care providers listed with TLC Child Care
Locators (ChildCareCenters.org) are listings only and
are not recommendations. The information provided
by TLC Child Care Locators is believed to have come from
reliable sources, including the facilities themselves or
those open to the public domain. However, the
facilities shown are listings only. In no way does
TLC Child Care Locators, any site partners, or any
sponsors endorse, license, nor otherwise recommend lists
found on TLC Child Care Locators Web Site. TLC
Child Care Locators exists as a first step for parents,
and is not intended as a recommendation of any kind.
We encourage you to contact the sources themselves for
the most accurate information. We also encourage
you to contact local Day Care Licensing Agencies to
check records of Child Care Providers that you are
considering. |
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