Children


Best Chance services

Kindergarten Cluster Management

The Kindergarten Cluster Management scheme was initiated and funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to relieve the pressure on volunteer kindergarten parent committees and to review the issues that impact on the delivery of preschool services for children and families in Victoria. The main objectives of the Kindergarten Cluster are to:
  • provide staff with a consistent employer
  • reduce isolation of teachers working in stand alone kindergartens
  • provide opportunities for increased professional development and networking
  • ensure that Licensee requirements are met
  • reduce the workload of parents who volunteer their time and skills to assist in the functioning of their child’s preschool

Why did bestchance become involved?

bestchance decided to undertake Kindergarten Cluster Management because we:
  • recognise that the early years of children’s lives significantly influence their physical, behavioural and social development in later life
  • believe that early childhood services should be integrated and inclusive to obtain best outcomes for children and that early childhood staff should have relevant professional development and support to achieve best practice
  • have the expertise within the early childhood field to support and manage the specific needs of preschool staff
  • saw a need to provide individual Committees of Managements with support and relieve some of the pressures relating to the employment of staff
  • believe that it is important to provide staff with consistent and cohesive employment from an employer who believes in the importance of early childhood education, rather than an employer who is also a client

Benefits to committees

  • Employment and Professional Development responsibilities are removed
  • Opportunity to meet with other committees and share ideas on fee handling, fundraising, flexible hours of service etc.
  • Most DHS forms are completed by bestchance
  • Support from bestchance with any issues or concerns that may arise

Benefits to staff

  • Receive consistent and cohesive employment from an employer who believes in the importance of early childhood education – not an employer who is a client
  • Meeting other early childhood professionals to share ideas & resources
  • Support during times of conflict with the committee or an individual parent
  • Participation in an extensive and targeted Professional Development program
  • Support with the management of critical incidents

How does the Kindergarten Cluster operate?

bestchance's roles and responsibilities, are to:
  • act as the Licensee and ensure that DHS requirements are being fulfilled
  • employ appropriately qualified teachers and assistants and consult the Committee of Management throughout the process
  • administer payment of wages and preservation of staff entitlements
  • co-ordinate and support the early resolution of any concerns between the staff and committee
  • encourage staff to attend professional development that will assist in their service delivery and suit the needs of the children and families of the current year
  • work in partnership with each Committee of Management, Municipality and Kindergarten Parents Victoria
  • develop and monitor policies and procedure
  • reconcile DHS funding and provide each kindergarten committee with a quarterly invoice

 

The kindergarten Committee of Managements' Roles and Responsibilities are to:
  • manage the service on a day to day basis including the collection of fees, payment of utilities and the purchasing of teaching resources requested by teaching staff
  • take sole responsibility for the activities organised to meet the running costs of the kindergarten
  • actively encourage the involvement of all families with children attending the service
  • give early advice of, and work co-operatively with bestchance to resolve any concerns between the staff and committee
  • pay agreed employment supplement costs, Professional Development expenses and other reimbursable bestchance costs e.g. recruitment and advertising
  • nominate two executive members to attend reference group meetings

The reference group

Each Committee of Management within our cluster is required to send two members from their executive committee to one meeting each term. Attendance at these meetings ensures that individual committees can contribute to any issues influencing our cluster. It also provides the opportunity to meet with other committees and share information about achievements or any difficulties that they are facing. Kindergarten policies and the level of satisfaction in relation to both the individual kindergarten and bestchance, as a manager, are also discussed.

Kindergartens in the bestchance cluster