NAA Standards at-a-Glance
Human Relationships
1. Staff relate to all children and youth in positive ways.
b) Staff assist children without taking control, and they encourage children to take leadership roles.
c) Staff give children many chances to choose what they will do, how they will do it, and with whom.
a) Staff give attention to children when they cooperate, share, care for materials, or join in activities.
d) Staff encourage children to resolve their own conflicts. Staff step in only if needed to discuss the issues and work out a solution.
d) When problems occur, children often try to discuss their differences and work out a solution.
c) Staff share the languages and cultures of the families they serve and the communities they live in.
d) Staff and families work together to make arrivals and departures between home and childcare go smoothly.
a) Staff communicate with each other while the program is in session to ensure that the program flows smoothly.
Indoor Environment
b) The space is arranged well for a range of activities: physical games and sports, creative arts, dramatic play, quiet games, enrichment offerings, eating, and socializing.
c) The space is arranged so that various activities can go on at the same time without much disruption.
d) There is adequate and convenient storage space for equipment, materials, and personal possessions of children and staff.
d) Some areas have soft, comfortable furniture on which children can relax.
Outdoor Environment
11. The outdoor play area meets the needs of children and youth, and the equipment allows them to be independent and creative.
a) Each child has a chance to play outdoors for at least 30 minutes out of every three-hour block of time at the program.
Activities
12. The daily schedule is flexible, and it offers enough security, independence, and stimulation to meet the needs of all children and youth.
c) Individual children move smoothly from one activity to another, usually at their own pace.
d) When it is necessary for children to move as a group, the transition is smooth.
a) There are regular opportunities for active, physical play.
d) Children have a chance to join enrichment activities that promote basic skills and higher-level thinking.
14. Activities reflect the mission of the program and promote the development of all the children and youth in the program.
a) Activities are in line with the styles, abilities and interests of the individuals in the program.
Safety, Health, and Nutrition
b) Systems are in place to protect the children from harm, especially when they move from one place to another or use the rest room.
17. The program provides an environment that protects and enhances the health of children and youth.
d) The heat, ventilation, noise level, and light in the indoor space are comfortable.
b) Staff protect children from communicable disease by separating children who become ill during the program.
c) Staff protect children from potential hazards such as the following: caustic or toxic art materials and cleaning agents, medications, and hot liquids; overexposure to heat or cold.
d) Staff and children wash hands frequently, especially after using the toilet or before preparing food.
a) Staff note when children arrive, when they leave, and with whom they leave.
c) Staff supervise children appropriately according to children's ages, abilities, and needs.
a) Staff-child ratios vary according to the ages and abilities of children. The ratio is between 1:10 and 1:15 for groups of children age 6 and older. The ratio is between 1:8 and 1:12 for groups that include children under age 6.
b) Staff-child ratios and group sizes vary according to the type and complexity of the activity, but group sizes do not exceed thirty.
d) Staff plan for different levels of supervision according to the level of risk involved in an activity.
24. Staff, families, and schools share important information to support the well-being of children and youth.
b) Staff, families, and schools work together as a team to set goals for each child; they work with outside specialists when necessary.
a) Staff provide information about community resources to meet the needs of children and their families.
b) The program develops a list of community resources. The staff draw from these resources to expand program offerings.
d) The program offers community-service options, especially for older children.
27. The outdoor space is large enough to meet the needs of children, youth, and staff.
d) There is a procedure in place for regularly checking the safety and maintenance of the outdoor play space.
28. Staff, children, and youth work together to plan and implement suitable activities, which are consistent with the program's philosophy.
a) Staff ask children to share their ideas for planning so that activities will reflect children's interests.
d) Staff plan activities that will reflect the cultures of the families in the program and the broad diversity of human experience.
c) The program has established policies to transport children safely; it complies with all legal requirements for vehicles and drivers.
a) There is current documentation showing that the program has met the state and/or local health and safety guidelines and/or regulations.
b) Staff have received the recommended type and amount of preparation. They meet the requirements that are specific to school-age childcare and relevant to their particular jobs.
d) Enough qualified staff are in place to meet all levels of responsibility. Qualified staff are hired in all areas: to administer the program, to oversee its daily operations, and to supervise children.
32. Staff (paid, volunteer, and substitute) are given an orientation to the job before working with children and youth.
a) A written job description that outlines responsibilities to children, families, and the program is reviewed with each staff member.
c) Written program policies and procedures, including emergency procedures and confidentiality policies, are reviewed with staff.
d) New staff are given a comprehensive orientation to the program philosophy, routines, and practices. They are personally introduced to the people with whom they will be working.
33. The training needs of the staff are assessed, and training is relevant to the responsibilities of each job. Assistant Group Leaders receive at least 15 hours of training annually. Group Leaders receive at least 18 hours of training annually. Senior Group Leaders receive at least 21 hours of training annually. Site Directors receive at least 24 hours of training annually. Program Administrators receive at least 30 hours of training annually.
a) Staff receive training in how to work with families and how to relate to children in ways that promote their development.
b) Program directors and administrators receive training in program management and staff supervision.
d) Staff receive training in how to promote the safety, health, and nutrition of children.
a) The program has a plan in place to offer the best possible wages and working conditions in an effort to reduce staff turnover.
b) Full-time staff receive benefits, including health insurance and paid leaves of absence. Staff are also given paid breaks and paid preparation time.
d) Staff receive continuous supervision and feedback. This includes written performance reviews on a timely basis.
c) The director involves staff, board, families, and children in both long-term planning and daily decision making.
d) Administrators assist with ongoing evaluation. They aim for improvement in all areas of the program.
36. Program policies and procedures are responsive to the needs of children, youth, and families in the community.
b) The program makes itself affordable to all families by using all possible community resources and sources of subsidy.
d) It is the program's policy to enroll children with special needs.
