Survey on the new Early Learning and Care Assessment of Quality

Survey on the new Early Learning and Care Assessment of Quality Improvements (ELCAQI) tool Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care

Survey Content  To determine if ELCAQI improves the quality of child care  Conducted over a two month period (June to August 2014)  163 online anonymous surveys sent to TCBCC child care membership (non-profit)  90 returns  Content and application of the ELCAQI tool  Relationships between the City staff and child care centres  Perception by the general public of the posted scores online

Findings  CONTENT AND APPLICATION OF THE ELCAQI TOOL  Whether ELCAQI improves the service quality of child care centres  49% reported they were satisfied to some degree that ELCAQI improves the quality of their service  47% reported they did not feel ELCAQI improves the quality of their service Improves Service  4% Unsure Quality Does not Improve Service Quality Unsure

Findings  Approximate cost to obtain a score of 5  1% $0.00  34% up to $50,000.00  10% $51,000.00-$100,000.00  7% $101,000.00-$150,000.00  4% $151,000.00-$200,000.00  6% over $200,000.00  38% unsure

$0.00 $50,000.00 $51,000.00$100,000.00 $101,000.00$150,000.00 $151,000.00$200,000.00 Over $200,000.00 Unsure

Findings  How easily the landloard will approve the building permit for renovations  60% reported difficulty  28% unsure  12% reported easily Difficult Unsure

Easily

Findings  How well balanced is ELCAQI between curriculum, staff interactions and facilities  57 % reported ELCAQI was not well balanced  37 % reported ELCAQI was well balanced  6% unsure Not well balanced Well balanced Unsure

Findings  How easy was it to obtain direction/information from inspection bodies (Health, File, Province etc.) in relation to line items in ELCAQI  43% reported finding it difficult  37% reported they found it easy  20% Unsure Difficulty obtaining direction/information Easy obtaining direction/information Unsure

Findings  RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CITY STAFF AND CHILD CARE CENTRES  Satisfaction with the level of support during the assessment by the Quality Assurance staff  49% reported satisfactory support  36% reported they did not feel supported  15% Unsure Satisfactory QA support Unsatisfactory QA support

Unsure

Findings  Satisfaction level of the relationship between Children’s Services and child care centres  68% reported a satisfactory relationship  26% reported an unsatisfactory relationship  6% Unsure Satisfactory relationship Unsatisfactory relationship

Unsure

Findings

 Perception by the general public of the posted online score  55% reported they were not satisfied with the online scoring and appeal process  28% reported they were satisfied  17% reported they were unsure

Not Satisfied Satisfied Unsure

Conclusions  Respondents are divided on whether ELCAQI improves the quality of service they deliver  The majority of respondents know ELCAQI drives up the cost of care  The majority of respondents will have difficulty getting landloard approval for renovations  Respondents indicate ELCAQI is not balanced between curriculum, staff interactions and facilities  A significant number of respondents are having difficulty getting clear direction/information from inspection bodies in relation to line items of ELCAQI

Conclusions  Respondents are equally divided on the level of support received by the Quality Assurance staff during the inspection process  A majority of respondents are satisfied with their overall relationship with Toronto Children’s Services  The greatest majority of respondents are dissatisfied with the online ELCAQI scoring and appeal process