Summary:
The Standards for the Operation, Management and Administration of Early Childhood Institutions define best practices for early childhood institutions and serve to encourage institutions to raise their level of practice above minimum requirements.
Description:
General Overview on the Standards for Early Childhood Institutions
The Standards for the Operation, Management and Administration of Early Childhood Institutions incorporates twelve standards. These standards fall into two categories. On one hand, the first represents standards promulgated by an Act or Regulations and are legally binding. On the other, the second category reflects voluntary best practices and is not legally binding.
Who is covered
The Standards apply to all persons and entities operating or involved in early childhood institutions under the Early Childhood Act (2005). This includes owners, operators, principals, teachers, and caregivers. The Early Childhood Commission oversees compliance through registration and inspection under the Early Childhood Commission Act.
What is covered
The Standards regulate the full operation of early childhood institutions. Additionally, they set requirements for nutrition, health, child safety, and protection. Therefore, the document addresses meal provision, hygiene, sanitation, and safe food handling within institutional settings. Furthermore, they support and operationalise duties under the Early Childhood Commission Act.
Key provisions
Considering FULL purposes, it states the following provisions:
- Early childhood institutions have to provide children with appropriate nutritious meals as well as to model good nutritional practices for children and families. It is a binding standard grounded by the Early Childhood Act, 2005 and the Early Childhood Regulations, 2005.
- The Minister of Education should issue regulations that prescribe guidelines for nutrition programmes in early childhood institutions (Section 23(2)(g)).
- The Regulations require operators of early childhood institutions under section 14(1)(c) to take all necessary steps to ensure that, among other things, health and nutrition plans are put into place. Moreover, section 14(4) requires each institution’s nutrition plan to ensure that meals and snacks meet the minimum components of a balanced diet for relevant age group.
- Other related Standards include Standard 6 (Health) and Standard 9 (Child rights, child protection and equality).