SERVICE ACTIVITY TYPE


Technical name: Service provider organisation - service activity type, early childhood education and care, code N[N]
METeOR identifier: 436094
METeOR link: http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/436094
METeOR definition: The main type of activity available from or provided by an early childhood education and care service provider, as represented by a code.

Scope
Inclusions: The main service activity type, for all early childhood education and care services that deliver a preschool program.
Exclusions:

• Activity types offered by the service provider which are not the service provider's main activity type.

• Early childhood education and care services that do not deliver a preschool program.

Underlying Concepts
Concept: Service activity type.
Nominal definition: Consistent with METeOR definition.
Operational definition: Consistent with METeOR definition.
Supporting data elements:

• Management type

• Service delivery setting

Conceptual issues:

• 'Main' is defined as the activity type that the service provider spends the majority of time delivering during the reference period.

• The range of activity types in which a preschool program may be delivered are diverse. This data element is used, in conjunction with other data elements about service provision, to obtain a more detailed appraisal of service availability and how services are provided.

Standard Jurisdictional Output Categories
Representation class: Code
Data type: Number
Format: N[N], for example: 8
Maximum character length: 2
Classification values:

1 - Long day care
2 - Occasional care
3 - Outside school hours care
4 - Vacation care
5 - Family day care
6 - In-home care
7 - Preschool program: stand-alone
8 - Preschool program: as part of a school

Supplementary values:

99 - Not stated/inadequately described

	Edit specifications	Edit resolution
1.	If field is blank.	Provide a valid activity type code, otherwise amend to code ’99’.
2.	If activity type is not code 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 99.	Provide a valid activity type code. Where jurisdictional activity types differ from NMDS categories, the ABS requests that a concordance is supplied to ABS to verify code mapping.
3.	If field contains text or character length is greater than 2.	Provide a valid activity type code.

Guide for Use
Counting rules:

• Only one code should be selected to represent the 'main' type of activity available or provided.

• Multiple responses to this data element are not accepted.

Classification Definitions
CODE 1 Long day care
Long day care is a centre-based form of child care service providing all-day or part-time care for children of working families and the general community (services may cater to specific groups within the general community). For-profit and not-for-profit organisations, local councils, community organisations and employers may run these services.
Long day care primarily provides long day care services for children aged 0–5 years. Some long day care may also provide preschool and kindergarten programs and care for school children before and after school and during school holidays, where state and territory government regulations allow this. The service may operate from stand-alone or shared premises, including those on school grounds.
 
CODE 2 Occasional care
Occasional care, comprises services usually provided at a centre on an hourly or sessional basis for short periods or at irregular intervals for parents who need time to attend appointments, take care of personal matters, undertake casual and part time employment, study or have temporary respite from full time parenting. These services provide developmental activities for children and are aimed primarily at 0–5 year olds. Centres providing these services usually employ a mix of qualified and other staff.

CODE 3 Outside school hours care
Outside School Hours Care, comprises services that provide care for school aged children before school, after school, during school holidays, and on pupil free days. Outside school hours care may use stand-alone facilities, share school buildings and grounds and/or share facilities such as community halls.

CODE 4 Vacation care
Vacation Care, comprises services provided for school aged children during school holidays only.

CODE 5 Family day care
Family day care, comprises services providing small group care for children in the home environment of a registered carer. Care is primarily aimed at 0–5 year olds, but primary school children may also receive care before and after school, and during school holidays. Educators work in partnership with scheme management and coordination unit staff.

CODE 6 In-home care
In-home care, comprises services where an approved carer provides care in the child's home. Families eligible for in-home care include families where the parent/s or child has an illness or disability; families in rural or remote areas; parents working shift work or non-standard hours; families with more than two children from a multiple birth and/or more than two children under school age; and families where a breastfeeding mother is working from home.

CODE 7 Preschool program: stand-alone
Stand-alone preschool, comprises separately located services dedicated to provide a structured educational programs to children in the one or two years before they commence full-time schooling only.

CODE 8 Preschool program: as part of a school
Preschool as part of a school, comprises services that are co-located with a school that provide structured educational programs to children in the one or two years before they commence full-time schooling. These services may also be integrated with a school.

CODE 99 Not stated/inadequately described
For use when the service activity type of a service provider is unknown, not stated or inadequately described. Where the service activity type is not stated or inadequately described, the ABS requests that jurisdictions identify the reason for the response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.

Other Information
Related aggregate data elements: Service activity type.

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