Step 4: Prepare policies, procedures and charter

ON THIS PAGE: Step 4 abc | Other information to help

We suggest you:

A.  Ensure that you understand the difference between licensing and chartering.

B.  Write drafts of:

• policies required for licensing and chartering
• records required for licensing and chartering
• any other policies or records you think would be useful, or that an organisation your service belongs to requires.

C.  Consider how you will ensure that your service operates in accordance with the Desirable Objectives and Practices (DOPs) [PDF, 79 KB], and develop management plans to reflect this.

Resources:

• Resource: Developing policies - what's required and how to write it. Includes suggested templates you can download and change to meet your needs.
• Resource: Administration records - includes example documents for you to download and change.
• Resource: Governance and management task list.
• Resource: Example annual timetable.

  D.  Consult with your community about your draft policies, practices and management plans. Your community might include families who intend to enrol their children and any wider interest groups such as a school or church.

  E.  Send your policies and administration records to your local Ministry office with your probationary licence application EC1. Check with your Ministry official about how much ‘lead in’ time they will require for receiving these records. It is likely that they will need to be sent at least one month before you want to open.

  F.  Make an appointment with your local Ministry office to discuss your charter application. This meeting may include discussion about your management plans and community consultation.

  G.  Make an appointment with your local Ministry office for a Ministry official to carry out your licensing visit. This should be timed to occur after you have completed Step 6.