PROGRAM SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL – FAMILY CHILD CARE

  • PROGRAM SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL – FAMILY CHILD CARE

  • Step 1: Look at Your Program

    Think about how your child care program helps children learn and grow. Look at the questions below. Check where you are doing well and where you can improve.

    You can use the self-assessment in different ways:
    Complete as the primary provider or together if you have additional staff
    Work with a coach or mentor to complete it
    Ask your coach for a paper copy if you prefer
    Teamwork is important! All staff are encouraged to take part if you have more than one provider. Once finished, gather results to find areas for improvement.

    Step 2: Make a Plan

    Use what you learn from this checklist to make your program even better! You can note which questions might inspire goals for your Quality Improvement Plan.

    This self-assessment is intended to supplement, not replace, regulatory (licensing or certification) standards. Items in the self-assessment represent high-quality standards that are above and beyond what is included in the regulatory standards.

  • Which best describes your role?*

  • Primary Family Provider

  • How to Complete the Self-Assessment

    1. Read Each Question – Go through each question in the checklist carefully.

    2. Give a Score – Think about how well your program is doing in each area. Choose a response:
    No or never
    Somewhat
    Yes or Always


    3. Finding Areas to Improve
    Note Your Goals – If there is a question you might want to learn more about or create a quality improvement goal around, check the box that says "This could be a goal!"
    Focus on Low Scores – Look at the areas where you scored lower. These are good places to set goals for your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).
    Be Honest & Learn – Choose a score that truly reflects your program. This isn’t a test—it's a tool to help your team grow and improve!
    This process helps you see what’s working well and where you can make things even better.

  • Section 1: Training & Education

  • 1. Do you have training and/or education in early childhood education?  (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*
  • 2. Do you get regular training on child development and teaching strategies? (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*
  • 3. Do you get support, coaching, and opportunities to grow?  (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*
  • 4. Is your Registry Program Profile up to date and maintained?  (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*
  • 5. Do you have training on how children develop social and emotional skills?  (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*
  • 6. Have you received training on how to protect children and families from risks and keep them safe? (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*

  • Section 2: Learning Environment & Curriculum 

  • 1. Are the child care spaces safe, welcoming, and organized for children of different ages?*
  • 2. Do you focus on how you interact with the children? Are these interactions positive and warm?*
  • 3. Do you understand which behaviors are appropriate for each child’s age and stage of development? Do you set age-appropriate rules and help children learn how to behave in a kind and respectful way?*
  • 4. Do you stay close to children to support learning and positive interactions?*
  • 5. Do you use language activities like storytelling, reading books, singing nursery rhymes, back and forth conversations, and using sign language to help children develop communication skills?*
  • 6. Do you have conversations with children, take turns talking, ask follow-up questions, and use a warm, friendly tone?*
  • 7. Do you create opportunities for children to play and interact with each other?*
  • 8. Do you give clear and specific feedback to encourage children?  (Program Owner or Primary Family Provider)*
  • 9. Are there a variety of books, toys, and hands-on learning materials in the play areas?*
  • 10. Do children get to explore, make choices, and play every day?*
  • 11. Are spaces used for care set up with different play areas?*
  • 12. Are all the child materials easy for children to reach and use during free play time, so they can make choices and play without interruptions?*
  • 13. Does the daily schedule balance quiet and active activities?*
  • 14. Do you plan and use transitions for the children?*
  • 15. Do you use meal, diapering, toileting, and other routine care time to build strong relationships with the children?*
  • 16. Do you use lesson plans? Do lesson plans support language, social, emotional, physical, and thinking skills?*
  • 17. Are you using assessment tools to track children’s progress?*
  • 18. Do you set developmental goals for children?*
  • 19. Do you use developmental screening tools to help families understand their child’s growth and development?*

  • Section 3: Business & Professional Practices

  • 1. Does your program have a working budget that informs spending?*
  • 2. Does your program track income, expenses and hours worked?*
  • 3. Do you have a parent payment agreement signed and on file for all families that have a Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy authorization with the program?*
  • 4. Are families involved and kept informed about their child’s progress?*
  • 5. Do you communicate with families in a variety of ways that best meet the families' needs?*
  • 6. Do you offer families the opportunity to connect with the program and the community?*
  • 7. Are records, licensing documents, and training logs kept up to date?*
  • 8. Do you have a written family handbook that includes policies and procedures?*
  • 9. Do you have policies to reduce risk and promote sound financial planning?*

  • Section 4: Health & Well-Being

  • 1. Do children have time for outdoor play and movement activities?*
  • 2. Are healthy meals and snacks provided based on nutritional guidelines?*
  • 3. Do you support children’s emotional well-being by offering comfort and encouragement?*
  • 4. Do you make modifications to schedules, environments, or activities to ensure the fullest participation by children with special needs?*
  • 5. Do you have a policy around families bringing food from home that explains the program will supplement meals with healthy components?*

  • Support Teacher

  • How to Complete the Self-Assessment

    1. Read Each Question – Go through each question in the checklist carefully.

    2. Give a Score – Think about how well your program is doing in each area. Choose a response:
    No or never
    Somewhat
    Yes or Always


    3. Finding Areas to Improve
    Note Your Goals – If there is a question you might want to learn more about or create a quality improvement goal around, check the box that says "This could be a goal!"
    Focus on Low Scores – Look at the areas where you scored lower. These are good places to set goals for your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).
    Be Honest & Learn – Choose a score that truly reflects your program. This isn’t a test—it's a tool to help your team grow and improve!
    This process helps you see what’s working well and where you can make things even better.

  • Section 1: Training & Education

  • 1. Do you have training and/or education in early childhood education?*
  • 2. Do you get regular training on child development and teaching strategies?*
  • 3. Are you given support, coaching, and opportunities to grow?*
  • 4. Do you have an account with the Wisconsin Registry? Is your account connected to the program where you work?*
  • 5. Have you received training on how to protect children and families from risks and keep them safe?*

  • Section 2: Learning Environment & Curriculum

  • 1. Is the child care space safe, welcoming, and organized for children of different ages?*
  • 2. Do you focus on how you interact with the children? Are these interactions positive and warm?*
  • 3. Do you understand which behaviors are appropriate for each child’s age and stage of development? Do you set age-appropriate rules and help children learn how to behave in a kind and respectful way?*
  • 4. Do you stay close to children to support learning and positive interactions?*
  • 5. Do you use language activities like storytelling, reading books, singing nursery rhymes, back and forth conversations, and using sign language to help children develop communication skills?
  • 6. Do you have conversations with children, taking turns talking, asking follow-up questions, and use a warm, friendly tone?*
  • 7. Do you create opportunities for children to play and interact with each other?*
  • 8. Do you give clear and specific feedback to encourage children?*
  • 9. Are there a variety of books, toys, and hands-on learning materials in the child care spaces?*
  • 10.  Is the play space set up with different play areas or centers?*
  • 11. Are all the child materials easy for children to reach and use during free play time, so they can make choices and play without interruptions?*
  • 12. Does your daily schedule balance quiet and active activities?*
  • 13. Do you plan and use planned transitions for the children?*
  • 14. Do you use meal, diapering, toileting, and other routine care time to build strong relationships with the children?*
  • 15. Do you use lesson plans? Do the lesson plans support language, social, emotional, physical, and thinking skills?*
  • 16. Are you using assessment tools to track children’s progress?*
  • 17. Do you set developmental goals for children?*
  • 18. Do you use developmental screening tools to help families understand their child's growth and development?*

  • Section 3: Business & Professional Practices

  • 1. Are families involved and kept informed about their child’s progress?*
  • 2. Do you communicate with families in a variety of ways that best meet the families' needs?*
  • 3. Do you offer families the opportunity to connect with the program and the community?*

  • Section 4: Health & Well-Being 

  • 1. Do children have time for outdoor play and movement activities?*
  • 2. Do you support children’s emotional well-being by offering comfort and encouragement?*
  • 3. Do you make modifications to your schedule, environment, or activities to ensure the fullest participation by children with special needs?*

  • Self Reflection - How did it go?  

  • Congratulations! You have completed Step 1: Look at Your Program.

    You can take the information from this checklist to begin working on

    Step 2: Make a Plan. To get started with Step 2, answer some general questions about what you learned from completing the checklist.

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