'Excellent' rating for Keithcot Farm

Congratulations to Keithcot Farm Children’s Centre at Wynn Vale. It received an Excellent rating from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) in September.

The centre provides services to families from before their baby is born to after their child begins school.

A community development coordinator connects families to parenting programs. A midwife can support them even before birth. And a partnership with SA Health has enabled an occupational therapist and speech therapist to join the team.

Anne Whittleston, Director of Keithcot Farm Children’s Centre, said it was satisfying to receive the recognition.

“We’re all feeling very humble at such a high rating,” she said. “It certainly is very affirming and professionally satisfying.”

The Excellent rating is the highest an education and care service can achieve under the National Quality Framework.

Ms Whittleston has been the director for 15 years. During this time, hard work by her team and some funding from the SA Government has transformed the service.

In 2007, it became a children’s centre that offers flexible care and coordinated health and community programs.

“I’m very privileged to have this opportunity,” she said.

Services that receive an Exceeding rating in all seven areas of the National Quality Standard can apply for the overall Excellent rating.

Only nine services in SA currently hold this prestigious rating, out of more than 1100.