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A blueprint might appear quite complex but, at the core, it is simply a guide for making something based on best practices.<\/p>\n
The blueprint\u2019s purpose is to help you visualise the overall architecture that guides design, development and cooperation throughout your organisation.<\/p>\n
Early Childhood Education programmes operate with a blueprint, formally or informally, made up of years of research and best practices plus their own leadership signature that makes each programme unique. So let\u2019s ask ourselves, what is your ECE house built on?<\/p>\n
Child Care Biz Help Founder Caroline Jens is a mentor, leader and coach with more than 30 years experience in finance, construction, banking.<\/p>\n
Whether you are a well established programme or just starting out, Caroline says there are five essential components that every Early Childhood Education programme should include in their blueprint.<\/p>\n
Including these components in your blueprint will help you manage the school of your dreams that your staff and families want to be a part of and rave about.<\/p>\n
Caroline also reveals how 1Place Childcare software can support you in defining, managing, and monitoring your blueprint so you can make best practice the new standard at every stage of growth.<\/p>\n
If you get this piece right, everything else will fall in line.<\/p>\n
It begins by asking yourself what is the vision for your school and how do you want to get there?\u00a0 Or if you\u2019re an established school, what have you learnt from this past year that requires a fresh look at your blueprint?<\/p>\n
\u201cDream about the school you want and you\u2019ve always imagined you\u2019ll have, and let\u2019s make that a reality,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
Your vision is seeing that future state for your school, where you\u2019re headed, what you\u2019ve learnt retrospectively, and always keeping your purpose and reason in front of you.\u00a0 And so you must;<\/p>\n
Define it –\u00a0ask yourself why do you want staff to believe they\u2019re there?<\/p>\n
Believe it –\u00a0don\u2019t let fear or past failures stop you from reinventing your school. \u201cDeep down inside you have to believe the vision so your team does too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Live it –\u00a0as a leader, your job is to cascade your vision or purpose down to your team and empower your leaders to live that vision.<\/p>\n
Align it –\u00a0to everything; job descriptions, policies, procedures, hiring procedures, what you\u2019re doing in the classroom. That\u2019s going to allow your vision to come alive.<\/p>\n
Your people are the second most critical piece in your blueprint.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have the vision and the purpose but you need the right people around you to execute it,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
She says finding the right people and retaining them is hard and a daily struggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore covid it was hard and, as we reopen, it\u2019s been triply hard but there is hope – we work with some schools that have a 100 percent retention rate.\u00a0 We know it is possible!\u201d<\/p>\n
You can find the right people if you seek employees who:<\/p>\n
Align with your purpose<\/p>\n
Caroline says it starts in the job ad and your online presence to draw the right people into your organisation.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t ask the same interview questions like \u2018what are your strengths and weaknesses?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk what they\u2019re involved in in their personal life, and how that relates to your purpose so you\u2019ll know whether they\u2019ll be the right fit for your organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Are entrepreneurial and empowered<\/p>\n
Find people who have an entrepreneurial mindset where they know they\u2019re empowered to make decisions, says Caroline.<\/p>\n
As a leader it can be scary to let people be able to \u2018take things off your plate\u2019 but it\u2019s a mindset we have to adapt to.<\/p>\n
With clear expectations, policies, procedures and checkpoints, the more empowered your team can be.<\/p>\n
1Place Childcare software provides the perfect set of digital tools to help define, audit, and measure your team so they feel their role really does matter.<\/p>\n
Some decisions you could hand over to your team include:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be afraid of bringing in someone to train your team on being an entrepreneur either.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreating the entrepreneurial spirit will help in a really great way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Knowing how to communicate your vision, expectations and how you\u2019re going to hold your team accountable is the core of every highly efficient organisation, says Caroline.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen your team knows these things, you\u2019re really going to be able to make something magical happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Communication is being mindful that your team is watching you, whether you think they are or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are constantly creating expectations on what we\u2019re communicating verbally and how we\u2019re acting. Be careful as leaders, that you\u2019re living what you\u2019re saying,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
She stresses the importance of being present, visible and available.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople need to know that you\u2019re available and how they can count on you. This will give you a really strong communication channel that will help you with feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some ways of being present and opening communication could be;<\/p>\n
While most organisations are good at writing procedures, not many are good at the accountability piece, says Caroline.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping those metrics in front of people is so important,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
This is where 1Place Childcare\u2019s smart workflows can help you communicate consistent best practice standards and stay tuned-in to your team.<\/p>\n
Schedule tasks, reminders, maintenance tickets and regular checklists to keep you and your people accountable and ensure things don\u2019t fall between the cracks.<\/p>\n
With real-time visibility, you can see when work is completed on staff level and the data to know areas that need improvement.<\/p>\n
Lynn Wenger, Vice President of 1Place Childcare North American Operations, 1Place Childcare can support you in building relevant and meaningful connections with your teams too.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving information at your fingertips is a critical component of strong leadership, especially when giving feedback while daily routines are happening.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shows you care, that you\u2019re connected and up-to-date, whether you\u2019re there daily or not. It helps staff feel supported and that their job is relevant in every way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is also an essential element of every early childhood organization\u2019s blueprint, and falls into three focus areas:<\/p>\n
New hires<\/p>\n
Because the first 90 days to the first year of employment is critical, \u201cdon\u2019t just train them on the classroom tasks but also culture and purpose. Ask them if they know the purpose and what they know the company is about. Check in regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professional development<\/p>\n
Spend time training your people on how to unify their team, give them freedom to be creative and a budget to have fun activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause all of that supports your vision,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also important that you share your passions and personal interests, and show that you are interested in your employees\u2019.<\/p>\n
Personal development<\/p>\n
We need to get to know our employees and coworkers and what they want to get out of their life, so have a mindset that you want your people to achieve success in their personal life.<\/p>\n
They will want to work harder for you because they are going to be happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of the most rewarding experiences if you can dive into that personal side of your team,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
The final element of your blueprint for success is engaging with your families and employees by making them your \u201craving fans,\u201d says Caroline.<\/p>\n
The \u2018raving fan\u2019 experience starts before they start with you. Then, once they enrol or are employed by you, it\u2019s the experience they have; are you engaging with them? Are you communicating with them and developing them?<\/p>\n
Showing value and gratitude is a rewarding way to build engagement, says Caroline.<\/p>\n
On a company level this includes considering things like incentives, bonuses, food, snacks in the break room, and merchandise that make people feel appreciated.<\/p>\n
On an individual level, it could be thank you cards, a post-it note acknowledging something you\u2019ve witnessed, giving a team member extra time off if they need it in their personal life, paid training, or being their mentor.<\/p>\n
Caroline says it\u2019s important to have fun with it and not look at it as a burden.<\/p>\n
\u201cShowing gratitude is going to change so much about your school and take so much off your plate that you\u2019re going to focus on things that really matter.\u00a0 Gratitude becomes part of your culture and spreads.\u201d<\/p>\n
Events and how you can extend learning into the home are fantastic engagement builders too.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuild resources for staff and families to make them excited to be part of your organisation,\u201d she says. This will remind them of the purpose and passion and the why behind what you do.<\/p>\n
1Place Childcare can also be utilised here to send out surveys for feedback, whether for staff or to your families, says Lynn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt comes back to accountability, where people feel valued and there\u2019s a purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
With these fresh insights, now is a great time to inspect (or reinspect) your blueprint.<\/p>\n
A clear vision and purpose, a focus on employing the right people, communicating well, providing robust training and development opportunities, and engaging with your families and employees will create a comprehensive blueprint to guide you on your journey to building the successful organisation you have always dreamt of creating.<\/p>\n
By partnering with 1Place Childcare, you will have the data on-hand to celebrate successes and best practices. The software\u2019s digital dashboards enable you to proactively monitor, manage, and identify any gaps or cracks in your blueprint – giving you the peace of mind that your ECE house is built on a solid foundation.<\/p>\n
Whether you are a well established programme or just starting out, let your blueprint be your guide!<\/p>\n