ECEC Provider in Focus: Queensland Childcare Services (QCCS)

Queensland Childcare Services (QCCS) is a privately owned and operated company which provides early childhood education and care (ECEC) services to children in South East Queensland through its network of 24 services, employing more than 700 staff. 

 

What is the history of QCCS? 

 

QCCS was established in 1991.

 

What is the QCSS vision and approach to learning? 

 

QCCS has an ultimate goal of ensuring the healthy development of each child by providing a learning environment that encourages children’s engagement, curiosity, problem solving, independent exploration and appropriate risk taking.

 

Other aims of QCCS whilst children are involved in its network include: 

 

• To establish patterns of good eating and exercise for their present wellbeing as well as modelling this positively and enthusiastically to the children.
• To create a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where children are encouraged to be children, enhance self-esteem and positively exercise their developing resilience, autonomy and initiative. 
• To educate and role model long term sustainable practices.
• To actively immerse and engage each child’s lifelong exploration in science, innovation and mathematics that is meaningful and relevant in their world.

 

Broader goals include: 

 

• To actively encourage participation and open communication with children, colleagues, families and wider community.
• To educate and raise community awareness on the importance of child protection.
• To develop and promote a professional working relationship with other service providers, schools and educational institutions to support the best interests of the children and their families in preparation for the transition to school.
• To create an environment where staff are supported to pursue knowledge and gain skills to enable them to excel in the profession of early childhood education.

 

“We are committed to the implementation of the National Early Years Learning Framework and operate an Emergent Curriculum. Our program is based on the individual needs of the children in our care, is balanced and developmentally appropriate. It has variations, providing for a wide range of individual experiences,” a QCCS spokesperson said. 

 

“These experiences give the children the opportunity to make choices and take on new challenges. Our centre programs are based on the individual child – thus ensuring it does not exclude any one child. Our goal is to inspire delight, curiosity, and inquiry in the classroom. Our program in no way stereotypes in relation to gender, cultural or religious background. Literature is examined to ensure issues of racism, sexism and typical stereotypes are omitted.”

 

QCCS recognises that learning is ongoing, and that each child will progress towards the outcomes in different and equally meaningful ways.

 

“Learning is not always predictable and linear. Educators plan with each child and the outcomes in mind,” the spokesperson noted.  

 

Are there any unique aspects to the QCCS offering? 

 

QCCS has a number of unique offerings, including Bush Kindy, Beach Kindy, Farm Kindy and Swimming Lessons.

 

Bush Kindy, Beach Kindy and Farm Kindy invite children to spend time outside of the classroom to better connect with nature, embark on new adventures and help foster lifelong skills. Children interact with nature through exploring the bush, sandy shores, and agricultural areas of South East Queensland. 

 

The Beach Kindy Program takes place on local beaches in Brisbane in an educational approach that combines traditional early childhood education principles with outdoor learning experiences in a beach environment. Children engage in various activities such as sand play, exploration of marine life, nature walks along the shore, water play, and sometimes even simple lessons integrated with the coastal environment. 

 

Beach Kindy aims to provide children with hands-on experiences in nature, fostering their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development while instilling a love and appreciation for the natural world.

 

In the Farm Kindy program children visit farms and agricultural environments to experience firsthand living on the land. The children explore produce and its process from “farm to fork” and also replicate this process in the centre’s gardens by growing their own fruits and vegetables.

 

Children are supported to engage in meaningful interactions with the land, animals and plants and the whole community is educated in the importance of sustainable ways of living.

 

QCCS services also partner with local swim centres to provide swimming lessons for children aged 3 to 5 years. The program runs weekly, all year round, in 5-week blocks and taught by fully qualified swimming instructors. 

 

The service also has a focus on nutrition, with a production kitchen – the Healthy Cooking Company – which focuses on meals which are preservative free, have no artificial colours or flavours, are low in sodium and refined sugar, and use natural sweeteners such as honey. 

 

Nutrient dense baby purees are also provided, with babies in QCCS services being served organic fruit and vegetable purees. 

 

What is the QCCS approach to educator’s identity and professional development? 

 

QCCS highly values staff training and ongoing professional development as an integral part of its culture. As part of this commitment, the provider established its own Early Childhood Training Organisation, the Australian Institute of Early Childhood Studies (AIECS) RTO 30693. 

 

The college delivers hands on training in numerous nationally recognised qualifications in early childhood:

 

• CHC30113 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care
• CHC50113 – Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• CHC62015 – Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management
• Food Safety Supervisor Certificate 

 

AIECS students have hands-on learning and opportunities to build careers within the network’s 24 centres. AIECS offers a wide range of portable and flexible training solutions including online learning opportunities and on the job training.

 

The qualifications reflect the requirements and expectations of the ECEC sector. Students not only benefit from exceptional, hands-on learning but also the opportunity to further their career with a career development program at QCCS.

 

Once employed with QCCS educators are given regular professional development opportunities, and monthly centre Director meetings to ensure staff are up to date with developments within the ECEC sector.

 

Learn more about QCCS here.