ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ECCD PROGRAMMES

Lesson 09: Management of ECE programmes- Staffing and Enrollment of children

Enrolling the children

Filling out forms, interviewing parents and visiting home background are the major components of the enrollment procedure. The director is responsible for developing forms that will provide the school staff members with the information they need about the families and the children. The director also manages the timing and the planning of these procedures. However it is useful to discuss the plans with the staff members who will be required to carry them out.

Information on families and children: The director must decide the kind of information to be obtained from the family. Information should be given to the staff responsible for taking care of the child.

Techniques

1. Filling out forms: Note that all information is necessary to the efficient business operation of the center, the health and safety of the child and for the better understanding of the child and the family.

   • Name of the child (Including nickname).
     
   • Name of family members and age of the siblings.
     
   • Names of the members of the household and their relationship to the child.
   • Home address and telephone number.
     
   • Name, address and telephone number of the employer of parents.
   • Transportation plans for the child (including how the child will be transported and by whom).
     
   • Arrangement for payment of fees.
     
   • Medical history and record of the recent physical examination of the child by a physician.
     
   • Social history of the child.
     
   • Name, address, telephone number of the child’s physician or clinic.
   • Name and address and telephone number of the person to be contacted in emergency.
     
   • Permission to participate in the total school programme (Field trips and Research etc).

Intake procedures: The director decides which staff member will be involved in each step of the intake procedure but it is imperative that the child’s teacher is actively involved from the beginning.

The adult who works directly with the child must interact with the child and the family to establish the feelings of mutual trust among the child, family and the teacher.

2. Initial interview with the parents: The purpose of an initial interview is to get acquainted with the parents, answer their questions about the centers programme, communicate what will be expected of them and familiarize them with the forms that must be filled in before their child is admitted.

3. Home visit with the family: A home visit is the next step in the intake procedure. The director and the social worker must describe the purpose of home visit to the staff and go over a home visit report with them before taking a family appointment. Home visits gives teacher a chance to get acquainted with the child and the home surroundings. The visit also provides another chance to chat informally with parents before the child enters the school. Observing a family at home will help the teacher in understanding the family life cycle and the family attitudes towards the child.