A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Appendix I
The Six Elements of Quality in School-Age Child Care

The most important part of any program is that kids have a safe, nurturing environment with adults who clearly care for them. Program staff should remember to treat kids as kids--provide encouragement, support, and friendship, as well as a safe and comfortable place to learn and grow, and a wide variety of creative activities that kids will enjoy, rather than simply pass the time with.

Human Relationships

• Are the staff warm and compassionate? Do they work with the children every day to build positive relationships and model communication? Do staff have realistic expectations of children?

• Do staff-child ratios and group sizes allow staff to meet children's needs?

• Do the staff and families work together to make the transition between home and child care go smoothly? Are the diverse needs of families recognized and viewed as strengths rather than burdens? Are families welcome at the program and do they feel well informed?

Indoor Environment

• Are the space, furniture, and equipment organized to support a wide range of program activities? Can several activities go on at the same time without disrupting each other?

Outdoor Environment

• Is the space clean and comfortable? Is it suitable for a wide variety of activities? Does the equipment allow children to be independent and creative? Does the space provide safe challenges for children of all ages including those with special needs?

Activities

• Is the daily schedule flexible? Does it meet children's needs for security, independence, and stimulation? Can they pursue hobbies and learn new skills?

• Are there many different activities for children to choose from? Do the activities give kids opportunities to learn in different ways and test out new ideas?

• Are the children involved in planning their own activities?

Safety, Health, and Nutrition

• Are the safety and security of the children protected? Do staff know the people the children are released to? Are entrances and exits supervised? When accidents do happen, are staff trained to handle emergencies and equipped with first-aid materials? Do staff know how to spot signs of child abuse and know how to report it? Are steps taken to protect and improve the health of children? Is the facility clean?

• Does the program serve healthy foods? Is there enough food to meet the needs of children of all ages and sizes? Is the food available at times when children are hungry? Do the kids seem to like the food?

Administration

• Are the staff-child ratios low enough?

• Are staff given an orientation to the job before working with children? Are staff asked about their training needs? Do they receive at least 10 hours of training per year to meet these needs?

• Does the financial management of the program support the program goals?

Excerpt from ASQ Team Leader's Resource Manual, published by the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, 1996.
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[Appendix H: The Evaluation Process]

[References and Resources for Additional Information]