Quality Care AssignmentAssignment 20% - SPRING/SUMMER 2025

Purpose	Students will identify family needs for child care, including the needs of the child(ren) and the needs of the parent(s). They will apply the indicators of quality in early learning programs to that they find online to match their family needs.
Learning Outcomes	Identify the indicators of quality in early learning programs according to the research. Analyze appropriate early learning options to meet individual family needs in Ontario.
General Overview	Each student will be given family scenarios. The student's responsibility is to find the most appropriate quality Early Childhood Setting for the families. The student will "Make an informed choice about child care that would be most appropriate in meeting the needs of your family and preschool children" Each family wishes to access the highest quality of care possible, however, every family characteristics and needs that will guide your decisions. The student will examine how that Early Childhood Setting meets the quality markers discussed in class.
Marking Guidelines	Written Paper = 20%

Academic Integrity

Sheridan is committed to Academic Integrity. In this course the professor has chosen to require students to use Turnitin to check their own written work to ensure originality.

• By taking this course, students agree that they will submit written work for this course to Turnitin for text comparison.
• Students will have the opportunity to review their initial work and correct any issues identified by Turnitin prior to submitting their final work.
• Students will include the final Originality Report as a part of the written work submission.
• Students are encouraged to discuss the Originality Report at any time with their faculty member.
• Assignments submitted to Turnitin will be included as source documents in Turnitin.com's restricted access database, solely for the purpose of detecting text copying.

Artificial Intelligence - The Use of any AI tools are prohibited for this assignment (not allowed):

Students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools (artificial intelligence or machine learning tools such as ChatGPT) on assignments in this course. Each student is expected to complete assignments without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.

Information regarding plagiarism, artificial intelligence and referencing, please review the following:

Academic Integrity Policy: academic integrity policy (sheridancollege.ca)

Academic Integrity Procedure: academic integrity procedure (sheridancollege.ca)

Referencing Sources Using APA Style: getting started - apa style (7th ed.) - all guides at sheridan library & learning services (libguides.com)

Assignment Instructions

• Each student will be given aFamily Scenario. You MUST use the family scenario given to you, failure to do so might result in a grade of zero.
• Each student will be given 4 Child Care Centre Options to pick from for your family scenario. You MUST use these 4 child care options given to you, failure to do so might result in a grade of zero.
• You need to identify what type of child care the family needs? What the parents feel is important, as well as what is a good fit for the children.
• Once you have identified the needs, you need to pick ONE of the 4 child care centres (assigned to you) to determine which child care option fits your family scenario the best.
• You need to write a report to clearly identify the parents' needs, the children's needs and the child care option you have chosen. You need to clearly explain, using the four (4) Quality Indicators and the six (6) Program Characteristics we discussed in class, why this child care option is the best fit for this family scenario.

The report needs to include the following headings:

Introduction (Family's Needs)

• You will need to identify your family needs for Early Learning & Care, including the needs of your child(ren) and your needs as the parent(s).
• Discuss the needs of the family and the children in detail. Explain the needs clearly.

Choosing a Child Care for Your Family

• Using the template provided, write the name, full address (the specific location if there are multiple locations), phone number and website.This must be ONE of the 4 child care options assigned to you.

Explanation for Choosing the Child Care Option (mentioned above):

Indicators of Quality:

• Review the chosen program's website and find the information about the four (4)Quality Indicators(Health and Safety, Physical Environment (Learning Environment), Staffing, and Relationships with Parents.)
• Using the template provided, provide information abouteach of the four (4) quality indicators.

Program Characteristics:

• Review the chosen program's website and find the information about all six (6)ProgramCharacteristics (Regulation, Operator Style, Program philosophy / Approach / Curriculum, Program Length, Services provided, and Program cost.)
• Using the template provided, provide information abouteachof the six (6)program characteristics.

Format:

• Use the Assignment Template provided below.
• APA format is mandatory. To learn how to write in-text quotations/citations in APA format, please review the library resources https://sheridancollege.libguides.com/apa
• Title page
• Microsoft Word document (Use the template provided only)
• Single spaced for chart
• Times New Roman and 12-point Font

Quality Care Assignment for Licensed Early Learning and Care Centre

INTRODUCTION (Family's Needs)

Which Family was assigned to you? ____________________________________________________

CHOOSING CHILD CARE

List the 4 child care options assigned to you:

1. _________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________________

List the child care option you have selected for your Family Scenario below:

CENTRE INFORMATION
Name of the Centre:
Full Address:
Phone Number:
Website:

INDICATORS OF QUALITY

Discuss the following Indicators of Quality in detail. It is important that you focus on the indicators of your chosen centre.

1. Health and Safety (Health policies, for example, Medication and Illness policies; Menu's etc.)

1. Physical Environment (What does the classroom look like, what does the outdoor playground look like)

1. Staffing (Are the RECE, what about Professional development, benefits, vacation time, etc.)

1. Relationships with parents (Is the Centre encouraging parent engagement? Do they have an "open door" policy? Do they have family events? etc.)

PROGRAM CHARATERISTICS

Discuss the following program characteristics in detail. It is important that you focus on the characteristics of your chosen centre.
Regulation: 1.1 License Type
1.2 Most Recent Inspection Date
1.3 Number of Requirements NOT met AND Risk Categories (if applicable)
Operator Style (Type of Program)
Program Length (Hours of Operation)
Service Provided (Age group and classrooms, additional services, for example, dance or music lessons)
Program Philosophy (How do they believe children learn? Play-based, Montessori, etc.)
Program Cost (Management & Funding Profit or non-profit?)

RUBRIC: Quality Care Assignment (20%) -(No need to submit Rubric)
Criteria	Insufficient	Satisfactory	Excellent	Mark
Introduction: Family's Needs	Did not identify the needs of the family. Used a family scenario that was NOT assigned to student.	Identified some of the needs of the family. Missing some important information to be able to select a child care.	Clearly identified the needs of the family (at least 5).
	0	2.5	5	/5
Choosing a Child Care for your Family	Early childhood program did NOT identify and/or is inappropriate and inaccurate based on the needs. Missing name, specific address, and/or website. Used a child care option that was NOT assigned to student.	Early childhood program clearly identified and is somewhat appropriate and accurate based on the needs. Includes the full name, specific address, and website.	Early childhood program clearly identified and is appropriate and accurate based on the needs. Includes the full name, specific address, and website.
	0	1	2	/2
Quality Indicators	Description of the four (4) quality indicators of the specific program are MISSING or unclear, vague, inaccurate, and inappropriate.	Description of the four (4) quality indicators of the specific program are somewhat clear, detailed, accurate and appropriate.	Description of the four (4) quality indicators of the specific program are clear, detailed, accurate and appropriate.
	0	4	8	/8
Characteristics of Program	Description of the characteristics of the specific program are MISSING or unclear, vague, inaccurate, and inappropriate.	Description of the characteristics of the specific program are somewhat clear, detailed, accurate and appropriate.	Description of the characteristics of the specific program are clear, detailed, accurate and appropriate.
	0	4	8	/8
Writing, Professionalism References, and APA style	Inconsistent writing style. Numerous grammatical and/or spelling errors. Content is very disorganized. Language is difficult to comprehend. Not carefully proofread. Followed APA format inconsistently. Professionalism is NOT consistent throughout (e.g., biased language).	Consistent in tone, and language. Noticeable grammatical and spelling errors. Content is organized. Language is awkward (lack of clarity) and/or wordy. Not carefully proofread. Followed proper APA format somewhat consistently. Professionalism is somewhat consistent.	Well written with no significant stylistic or grammatical errors. Very well organized. Language is concise and precise. Followed proper APA format consistently. Professionalism is consistent throughout. (e.g., objective, unbiased language).
	0	1	2	/2
Total: /25