Accreditation and Quality Care for Children with Special Needs

Abstract

Children with special needs are increasingly attending long day care services in Australia. Currently these services are using an accreditation process designed to improve the quality of service delivery to all children and families. Accreditation consists of a set of 52 principles addressing interactions; programming; nutrition, health and safety practices; and centre management and staff development. This paper examines the factors which contribute to quality child care for children with special needs, and relates these factors to principles in the accreditation document. It is argued that while the child care industry has a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate high quality care for children with special needs, the overall impact of the document serves to reinforce existing stereotypes which place children with special needs on the periphery of community and neighbourhood services.

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