For a service with 25 to 59 children, how many hours must an ECT attend if open over 50 hours?

For a service that has between 25 to 59 children and operates for more than 50 hours a week, the expectation is that the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) must attend a minimum of 6 hours per day. This requirement is in place to ensure that the teacher is available to meet the needs of the children adequately, support their development, and manage the program effectively.

The rationale is grounded in the high level of responsibility ECTs have in overseeing the learning environment and ensuring that each child's developmental needs are addressed. Operating for extended hours increases the demand for professional oversight, ensuring consistent quality of care and education, which seals the need for a higher number of hours of attendance.

By specifying this requirement, the guidelines aim to maintain a standard of care that is necessary for effective educational practices and for providing due attention to children within this age range. Thus, 6 hours per day is established as the appropriate amount of time for ECTs in settings with this number of children, especially when the service operates for extended periods each week.