6.7 PARENT PARTICIPATION

DATED:     January 2006

SOURCE: Families and Community, Parent Participation, Government of South Australia,

Department of Education and Children’s Services

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POLICY

Bayside Family Day Care acknowledges and respects the child’s primary relationship with their family. The service recognises the value of parental input into the management and decision making processes of the service and actively engage them to make a contribution at a level with which they are comfortable.

PROCEDURE

Management Committee

Representation is provided on the Management Committee for a Parent Representative. This position is elected at the Annual General Meeting each year.

Advisory Committee

Representation is provided on the Advisory Committee for parents who wish to participate in the decision making of the service. Policies and procedures are developed and reviewed at the Advisory Committee and recommendations put forward to the Management Committee for final approval.

Surveys

The scheme regularly surveys parents on issues such as fees, policies, quality of care, etc.

Telephone Contact

Coordinators make contact with parents after starting care in the service and they are recontacted to provide feedback regarding their satisfaction levels at the Carers re-approval, the service’s Accreditation, when issues arise, and are invited to make contact through newsletters for information on their child’s development, etc.

Playgroup

Parents who use the service are invited to come along to our playgroup which is offered twice a week.