Training Helps Childcare Professionals Improve Quality of Care

Many home and center-based childcare providers want to improve the quality of the care they offer, but need guidance in evaluating programs and developing plans for improvement. In addition, childcare centers deal with frequent staff turnover, which presents challenges in providing new staff with consistent orientation and basic training. But whether home or center-based, childcare professionals need high-quality, research-based, accessible training that will help them increase their skills in educating young children.

Extension's Response...

ISU Extension training options to meet the needs of Iowa childcare providers include Iowa Better Kid Care New Staff Orientation for childcare center staff and directors, and Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale training. Extension also has provided Early Learning webinars.

Results

More than 72 percent of all Iowa childcare centers and preschools participated in the Iowa Better Kid Care New Staff Orientation Program. Center and preschool directors must attend a six-hour workshop, which ISU Extension conducts regionally, to receive the curriculum — 30 video units and a workbook—they then can use with their staff for on-site, standardized training. Last year 138 childcare center directors received instruction in new staff orientation, staff feedback, and coaching procedures. In a follow-up survey 88 percent felt they could better teach and model good, healthy practices, and 82 percent could work more effectively with staff. As a result, 1,026 childcare and preschool teachers received 16 hours of instruction and completed activity assignments specific to their worksite.

Last year 310 childcare professionals from across the state completed ISU Extension's Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ERS) workshop series because they wanted to increase the quality of their programs for Iowa children. The sequential workshops help providers meet requirements for childcare licensing and Iowa's childcare quality rating system. In a follow-up survey, 95 percent of respondents reported making significant improvements in their programs, such as increasing the safety of their environment, including playgrounds; adding new play materials for math, dramatic play, blocks, books, music/movement, and diversity; and improving parent-provider communication.

ISU Extension held a series of Early Learning Webinars in 2009 and early 2010. The online training sessions were held during typical afternoon naptime hours and repeated in the evening just after most childcare providers close for the day — allowing 927 child care professionals to participate. As a result, 95 percent of these participants reported making one or more program improvements. In a three-month follow-up study of 127 respondents, 81 percent reported increased understanding of how children grow and learn, and 86 percent reported improvements in teaching skills.