Accreditation Preparation Toolkit for Family Child Care Providers

Take the guesswork out of accreditation preparation.

The Accreditation Preparation Toolkit for Family Child Care Providers is a comprehensive, self-guided digital resource created specifically for family child care programs working toward NAEYC Recognition and/or Accreditation.

Instead of searching through multiple resources and trying to determine what to work on next, this toolkit provides an organized preparation system to help family child care providers assess current readiness, strengthen policies and program practices, organize documentation and evidence, develop stronger observation and assessment systems, track professional qualifications, and prepare for the accreditation site visit.

The toolkit includes nearly 200 pages of practical accreditation guidance, examples, checklists, templates, planning tools, and readiness resources, along with an interactive Excel tracking tool that can be customized to support the individual needs of the family child care program.

Your download includes:

• START HERE Guide – explains how to use the complete toolkit, where to begin, and how to work through the resources without becoming overwhelmed.

• Accreditation Readiness & Planning Tool – helps providers identify what is already in place, what may need revision, and what still needs to be developed as they prepare for Recognition and/or Accreditation.

• Accreditation Application Preparation Resources – helps providers organize written responses, documentation, evidence, and other information needed as they move through the accreditation process.

• Policies & Program Practice Review Resources – supports review of family-facing policies, program procedures, communication practices, and other written information so documented policies reflect actual program practice.

• Observation, Assessment & Planning System for Family Child Care – provides practical tools for observing children, documenting development, using assessment information, individualizing experiences, gathering family input, and connecting observations to future planning.

• Family Input & Communication Tools – supports meaningful communication with families and provides structured ways to incorporate family information into observation, assessment, and individualized planning.

• Professional Qualifications & ELP Hub Readiness Tools – helps organize qualifications, professional development, credentials, certifications, training information, and other documentation connected to NAEYC preparation.

• Evidence & Documentation Preparation Resources – helps providers organize examples of program practice and supporting documentation so evidence can be located and explained more easily.

• Narrative Planning Resources – supports providers in describing how policies, practices, documentation, and everyday program experiences demonstrate program quality.

• Observation & Site Visit Readiness Resources – helps providers review the family child care environment, supervision, interactions, routines, learning experiences, health and safety practices, documentation, and other areas that may be observed during the accreditation process.

• Interactive Accreditation Tracking Tool – provides a customizable system for monitoring progress, identifying missing items, and organizing next steps throughout the preparation process.

  
  

Designed for real family child care programs

This is not simply a collection of accreditation checklists.

The resources are designed to help family child care providers translate accreditation expectations into actual program practices, policies, documentation, routines, and systems that can be used every day.

The toolkit can be especially helpful for:

• Family child care providers beginning the NAEYC Recognition or Accreditation process

• Providers who are unsure where to begin or what to work on next

• Providers organizing accreditation documentation and supporting evidence

• Programs reviewing or updating family policies and procedures

• Providers developing stronger child observation, assessment, and planning systems

• Family child care programs preparing for an accreditation site visit

• Providers organizing professional development and qualification documentation

• Providers who want a clearer system for connecting everyday program practices to accreditation expectations

One purchase. One family child care program.

Your purchase provides an internal-use license for the purchasing family child care program.

Editable working templates may be copied and customized for use within the purchasing program in accordance with the included licensing agreement.

Materials may not be redistributed, shared with other providers or programs, resold, or used outside of the purchasing program.

Important notice

The Accreditation Preparation Toolkit for Family Child Care Providers is an independently developed resource from JStewart Consulting LLC.

It is not published, sponsored, approved, or endorsed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and does not replace official NAEYC standards, Recognition or Accreditation materials, application requirements, ELP Hub instructions, assessment materials, site-visit guidance, policies, or other official NAEYC resources.

Providers should always consult the current official NAEYC materials applicable to their Recognition or Accreditation process.

Purchase of this toolkit does not guarantee NAEYC Recognition or Accreditation.