An Assistant at a Daycare, Essay Example

My workplace sees a number of dynamics presented in this short analysis.  As an assistant at a daycare, there are levels of efficiency that are present in the workplace.  There are certainly areas of improvement that could make my workplace an overall better working environment for the employees and children.

Efficiency

Overall the daycare I work at is rather efficient.  It is definitely not perfect and comes with its own challenges.  However, I would have to say that the efficiency of the operations are somewhat efficient.

Technology

New technology has been one of the latest ways to make the daycare more efficient.  As the owner is not up to date on technology, the owner has used paper to keep up with the parent’s payments of tuition and other expenses.  While this has worked for my boss, the efficiency from the owner’s point of view is not very good.

Lately spreadsheets have been used to keep track of every account.  Using spreadsheets, my boss can see every payment along with the parent’s status, to see whether or not the parent is keeping up with their child’s tuition.  This has allowed the process of inputting and looking up information much more efficient.

In the past my boss was regulated to sorting through a rather large folder filled with individual pages of this information.  This past method is of course not a good way to store important information.  Thankfully backing up data can now take place on an external hard drive, and it does not rely on paper.  This has been perhaps the latest development for workplace efficiency.

Additionally technology has been utilized to seamlessly replicate important letters.  For instance, the daycare often sends out letters for yearly field trips and calendars of activities.  Now we are able to simply print them out, rather than finding old and visibly deteriorating copies of these documents.

Customer Focus

Relating to customer focus, at least as much as possible in a daycare facility, is in a new security method.  Both for the parent’s peace of mind and the safety of the children, we have implemented a keypad on both entrances.  With this technology the parent must enter a code in order to enter the building.  This obviously adds an important safety measure for the children, allowing workers to better concentrate on the children and not who is entering the daycare, as sometimes they are not recognized, in terms of a salesperson or someone who is picking up a child who is new.

The efficiency gained with this is very important.  As mentioned, the keypad allows us to not always have to watch the doors, as this is an important part of maintaining the children’s safety.  Additionally, the parents are much more at ease regarding the safety of the children.  Each parent has their own password that we have given out to them.  We have combined this with other areas of technology.  Relative to an aforementioned discussion, we have placed each password with the appropriate name on a spreadsheet database.

Equity and Voice

Overall, the workplace runs very smoothly.  When certain people have emergencies or situation, they are able to talk to the owner or make arrangements with coworkers to take care of the situation.  Teamwork is of prime importance.  We have a number of dedicated teachers and a supportive owner who work well together and interact well.

Recommendations

The daycare I work at runs extremely well.  Considering this, there are some changes that could provide even more efficiency and equity into the workplace.  While not necessary, the following considerations could be worthwhile.

Efficiency

One of the biggest improvements could be in the allocation of resources to teachers.  While there are fundraisers every year, and the owner is very receptive to things that are needed in the classroom, there is no set amount for teachers to replenish supplies and extra activities to the children.

The owner could potentially find a way to allocate even a small amount of money for each classroom.  In regards to the needs of the classroom, teachers should have some ability to add certain activities and supplies for the children.  This would allow classrooms to enhance learning materials, new and better supplies, and other needs within the needs of the children and the classroom.

Other improvements could allow for teachers to have more communication with parents.  Communication is important in identifying challenges for children who are having a difficult time in and outside of the classroom.  Additionally, of course, parents need to know how their children are doing in many different aspects, to be informed of the progress of the children in his or her stages of development.

The current system has a slip that is written on while the children are taking their nap, after lunchtime.  However, there is not much space to put information, and sometimes teachers will write notes if the children are not having a good day.  Of course the teachers can speak to the parents directly; however, many teachers that work during the day are not present before closing time, which is when most parents pick up their children.

Measures could be taken both in regards to a system and in communication.  Firstly, there could be a better way to inform the parents of their child’s progress every day.  The teachers could have a better form to fill out, with more room to write, or perhaps a number of pre-selected options to characterize the child’s day, so that this process would not take too long.

Equity

Related to this point is in the environment between teachers.  Teachers should be more communicative of the children on a daily progress.  From the previous example, it is not uncommon for a parent to ask a teacher why their child did not have a good day, when the previous teacher has now left, and the current teacher is unaware of the situation.  The staff should interact on a consistent basis on these types of things, regardless of how big or small the situation is in this case.

Conflict resolution is another area in which relationships could improve with the staff.  Of course there are difficulties with the children from time to time.  Often teachers become frustrated with other teachers for not acting or responding in a certain way, which can cause gossip and tensions.  The owner and the staff should identify ways in which these issues could be resolved.  With these issues in mind, the working environment could be improved in these and other manners.