reporting

DoCS has been progressively reviewing the data requirements for children’s services to bring them into line with funding reform objectives and the new preschool funding model.

As part of this a system for online reporting was introduced in 2008.

online reporting

This year there are four online forms for annual reporting.

A separate form has been developed for licensed services with no preschool places (long day care and/or occasional care places only).

Services with any preschool places should fill in the first form even if they have long day care and occasional care places as well.

Services with no preschool places should complete the appropriate form (forms 2 to 4).

Representative Week is 17-21 August 2009.

general information and instructions

You can access the relevant form for your service by clicking on the links below.

All questions must be answered to enable DoCS to make a sound assessment of the project.

To fill out the form you will need to have this data:

  • number of children attending by age and special needs groups
  • number of families holding low income Health Care Cards
  • fees charged by day
  • days children attended
  • number of staff

See frequently asked questions about data collection for more information.

If you are unable to access the form, a hard copy of the form can be provided on request. Contact your local Partnerships and Planning team or email childrens_services_funding@community.nsw.gov.au for assistance.

DoCS does not accept any responsibility for any costs incurred by or on behalf of the project in relation to the reporting form requirements.

choose the appropriate form for your service:

  1. ANY preschool places
  2. ONLY long day care and/or occasional care places
  3. Vacation care
  4. Early childhood

The first time you view the 2009 forms you will be prompted with a pop-up box. Just click the 'Cancel' button.

Please submit all data by 11 September 2009.

Additional instructions on completing the form:

  • To progress to the next page, simply click on the 'Continue' button at the bottom of each page. Alternatively use the 'Back' button to return to a previous page.
  • If the form won’t let you progress to the next page you will notice a pop-up box detailing required fields that have not been answered. If this occurs, please complete the required fields then try again.
  • At any point in time, you may save the your data and return later to finish the form.

    To do this, scroll to the bottom of any page and press 'Click here to save data and finish later'. You will then be prompted with a pop-up box to create a user name/password, then click on 'Save & Finish later'.

    It is important to remember your name/password as they are not kept by DoCS. Losing them means you will need to re-complete the form from the beginning.
  • When you want to return to complete an online form, enter the username/password and click on the 'Get partial responses' button.
  • When you have finished filling in the form, click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom of last page. This submits the form to DoCS for assessment.

    You will then see a summary page acknowledging that the form has been submitted successfully. If you do not see this page then the form has not been submitted so press 'Back' on your browser and try submitting the form again.
  • Once the online form has been successfully submitted, you should receive an email with a copy of the your data. The email will go to the project email address entered in the form.
  • If you believe you have made an error in your data entry, email economics@community.nsw.gov.au. Minor changes can be updated easily once a request has been sent to the above address.

accountability

The data collected through this reporting process will be used to meet DoCS and the Government’s reporting commitments and to assist with the evaluation and the planning of service provision.

These performance monitoring and financial reporting requirements are outlined in the Service Agreement.

For preschools, this data will also be used to determine funding for next year so it is important that correct data is entered in the form.

future directions

These forms will continue to be revised and developed to ensure they align with DoCS funding and reporting requirements. 

As part of the funding reform process DoCS will also be introducing new service specifications for children’s services and looking at the introduction of further performance accountability processes.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 (24 hours/7 days)