-
8/2/2019 Topic 1 Law Act and Rules Establishing Nursery
1/4
Topic 1: Law, Act and rules Establishing Nursery
Regulation and policies guide and facilitate the work and life of an
early childhood care and education program:
Children and their families
Staff
Director
Board
Regulations and policies may be defined in various ways. In this
course the term will be differentiated as follows:
(a) Regulation is a rule that is recognized as binding and that
emanates from actions of governing bodies outside of the
early childhood program.
(b) A policy is a written statement that explains a course of
action toward achieving the goals of a local program.
Regulations and policies are closely linked as program policies
must be based on applicable regulations.
Generally a regulation has characteristics as follows:
1. Regulations cover all aspects of a program administration
of organization, facilities, personnel, funding, and services.
2. Various regulations apply to different types of early
childhood programs.
3. Regulations vary in comprehensiveness.
4. Most regulations are mandatory.
5. Regulations come from various sources.
1
-
8/2/2019 Topic 1 Law Act and Rules Establishing Nursery
2/4
The regulations have at least five problems:
1. Regulations can keep early childhood programs at minimum
levels.
2. Regulations may deter innovation.
3. There states do not have agency or committee responsible
for early childhood programs.
4. Some regulations are simply on record, with little or no
enforcement.
5. Continuous consultant is often omitted.
Reason for Policy/Procedure Establishment
1. Policies/procedures provide guidelines for achieving the
programs goals.
2. If policies/procedures are constant and apply equally to all,
they ensure fair treatment.
3. Policies/procedures provide a basis for evaluating existingplans and for determining the merit of proposed plans and
are usually required by various funding agencies.
4. Policies/procedures may be requested by auditors.
5. Reference for related agencies that require the guideline
under their respective jurisdiction or policies covering certain
aspects of local program.
Levels of Protective Standards
2
-
8/2/2019 Topic 1 Law Act and Rules Establishing Nursery
3/4
Levels of protective standards are to develop a conceptual
framework for level standards. Levels of protective standards
include as follows:
1. Baseline or minimum including zoning regulations, buildingcodes and requirements for fire safety and sanitation;
transportation requirements; childrens right and protective
regulations; required services for children with special
needs; licensing and registration
2. Public agency regulations
3. Financial monitoring
4. Staff credentials
5. Accreditation
6. Highest - Model standards
Early childhood programs need to protect children involved in
custody disputes. Children can be protected if administrators
follow the procedure:
1. Clarify custody of all children at or prior to time of
enrollment.(information must be in writing, dated, signed,
and kept current.)
2. Name(s) and address(es) of those authorized to pick up the
child must be given in writing.
3. Administrators should provide statement to each person
enrolling a child that the child will be released only to those
person named on the forms as being authorized to receive
the child.
4. If an unauthorized party attempts to receive a child, follow
these steps:
3
-
8/2/2019 Topic 1 Law Act and Rules Establishing Nursery
4/4
(a) tell the person he or she is unauthorized, regardless of
the theoretical rights;
(b) show him or her a copy of the authorization;
(c) notify the authorized person of the problem; and
(d) if the unauthorized person does not leave, call the police.
Child Care Regulation
Regulatory laws govern child care centers. Areas covered in most
licensing codes include the following:
1. Licensing laws and procedures.
2. Organization and administration
3. Staffing
4. Plant and equipment.
5. Health and safety
6. Program
7. Discipline
8. Parent involvement
Activity
Students need to read on Child Care Act and Regulation 1984,Child Act 2001, Child Protection Policy.
4