Taking advantage of these 3 helpful tips for writing early learning policies and procedures simplifies the composition process.

Early learning program policies and procedures are only helpful if they are usable. Usability increases when care is taken in their creation. These tips will help you write policies and procedures that will be read, understood, and implemented.

3 Helpful Tips For Writing Early Learning Policies And Procedures

Here are the 3 tips for writing early learning policies and procedures:

Be Clear, Concise, And Complete

Early learning policies and procedures should be as clear, concise, and complete as possible. This makes them easy to read and helps readers find the information they need when it is required. Write in a just-the-facts style—avoiding jargon, run-on sentences, repetitiveness, and flowery language. Also, use qualifiers and intensifiers sparingly since they don’t generally help make writing clear or concise. 

• Clear = Easy To Understand
• Concise = As Short As Possible
• Complete = Topic Covered Sufficiently

Be Declarative And Imperative

Compose policies using mostly declarative sentences since they state the program’s rules and expectations. Write procedures using mostly imperative sentences since they explain how to do things. Avoid interrogative sentences (they ask questions) since the focus of policies and procedures is to answer the question, “what’s expected here and how do we meet those expectations?” There’s not much need for exclamatory sentences either—policies and procedures should remain emotionally neutral.

• Declarative Sentence = Makes A Statement About A subject
• Imperative Sentence =  Is Direction, Instruction, Or Command

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids can often explain procedures more efficiently than the written word. They are instrumental in long or complicated procedures. Visual aids are intended to supplement written procedures, not replace them. They help readers understand and visualize the written information. Visual aid examples include the use of simple bullet points as well as:

• Checklists
• Flowcharts
• Diagrams
• Photographs
• Videos

Wrap Up

Writing early learning policies and procedures can take time and effort. Time and effort that you’d like to spend in different ways. These writing suggestions can simplify the process. You’ll find a free handout with this information here.

Related Policy And Procedure Forms And Handouts

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