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

 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 Survey Content

 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  4% Unsure Findings

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

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

 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 Conclusions