How to complete the Child Survey
The Child Survey is for church attenders aged 8 to 14 years. It explores children's faith, spirituality and their experiences of church life.
The survey is best to be completed together e.g. during a children's activity of spiritual nurture, Worship Service, or Mass.
See below for all you need to run the Child Survey at your church.
The Child Survey can be completed via a paper survey or online.
What do you need to complete the Child Survey at your church?
Check your Survey Kit for:
-
Child Survey Instructions showing your Church Code
-
Child Surveys- paper or online
-
Parent Information Sheets
-
Attender Survey Collection Envelopes
*Church Survey Coordinators will find a Return Postage Label in your Survey Kit. You can keep the original Post Pack to reuse it or use a new one.
Child Survey Instructions
showing your Church Code
(one per church location or Mass centre is included in your Survey Kit - if your church ordered Child Surveys)
To be used by leaders of children's activities, worship services or Mass to conduct the survey.
This Instructions Sheet displays the NCLS Church Code for a church location (page 1) to be written on all survey forms at that location.
N.B. Multi-site churches or parishes will receive one Child Survey Instructions for each church location or mass centre, displaying their NCLS Church Code (see Guide for more details).
Child Survey Forms - paper or online
(multiple child surveys as ordered)
It is for attenders aged 8 to 14 years.
It is optional and confidential.
Parents can decline the participation of their child.
Each child must complete the survey once only.
The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete.
Online option: The Child Survey can be completed on a paper survey form, or online at childsurvey.ncls.org.au
Parent Information Sheets
(a few copies per church location or Mass centre)
To be distributed to parents and carers before completion of the Child Survey.
N.B. Extra copies can be downloaded and either printed or emailed using the link below.
Attender Survey Collection Envelopes
(one per 50 Attender Surveys)
To be used to collect surveys once completed.
Inside the envelope, place completed Child Surveys, along with the adult Attender Surveys. Approx 50 surveys per envelope. Please seal the envelopes and do not read children's responses, to protect their anonymity.
More resources:
Use the resources below to help you run the Child Survey, either on your Survey Day or during your Survey Period. Churches can use the resources in a way that suits them, whether they are completing the survey together face to face or streaming live online.
Read Aloud or Print Instructions for Survey Day- for the Child Survey
Provide these instructions to child church attenders aged 8 to 14 before completing the Child Survey. You can either read them aloud to children if you are meeting together face-to-face, or print and distribute them to children if you are completing the survey separately at home.
(Please ensure you have circulated Parent Information Sheets to parents and carers before completion.)
These Instructions are also found in the Child Survey Instructions to be provided to church leaders at each site or location completing the Attender Survey.
“Today we’d like to ask you some questions about your faith and about church. This is a special survey for people aged 8 to 14. There are no right or wrong answers. We want to hear what you think. Don’t write your name on this survey. All of your answers are private. Nobody else should read them. You don’t have to do this survey if you don’t want to.
To answer a question please cross the box next to the answer that is closest to what you think. If you don’t understand a question you can ask for help from an adult.
To complete the Child Survey online:
- Go to childsurvey.ncls.org.au and enter our NCLS Church Code.
- Click ’Finish’ before you share your device with someone else.
Thank you."
When you have finished, please return your survey form to your Leader or your Church Survey Coordinator. It will be sealed in the Attender Survey Confidential Collection Envelope.”
Display Slide for Child Survey
Use this to display your Church Code for children completing the Child Survey
Download options:
Child Survey Display Slide (PPT)
Child Survey Display Slide (PNG)
Child Survey Display Slide template w QR Code (PPT)
QR Code for online Child Survey
for scanning by smart device to go to childsurvey.ncls.org.au
Activity Sheets
for young children while older children and adults are completing the survey
Invitation Template Text for the Child Survey
Use this text to send invitations to your child church attenders and their parents to complete the Child Survey, if you are completing them separately at home. Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
YOU ARE INVITED to take part in our Child Survey
Dear children,
Our church is participating in a Church Life Survey and you are invited to complete the Child Survey for churchgoers aged 8 to 14.
The survey will ask you about your faith and about our church. There are no right or wrong answers. We want to hear what you think.
All of your answers are private. You don’t have to do this survey if you don’t want to.
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper Child Survey form or
- Go online to: childsurvey.ncls.org.au
- And enter our Church Code: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
We ask you to complete our Child Survey by _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
Note for parents and carers: The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of a Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. A Parent Information sheet and more information about the Child Survey is available at ncls.org.au/child-survey-instructions
Yours faithfully,
Reminder Template Text for the Child Survey
Use this text to send a reminder to your child church attenders to complete their survey. We recommend sending one or two reminders during your survey period. Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
A FRIENDLY REMINDER about our Child Survey
Dear children,
Recently we sent you an invitation to take part in our Child Survey.
We hope you will take part soon if you haven’t already done so.
You will be asked about your faith and about our church.
There are no right or wrong answers. We want to hear what you think. All of your answers are private. You don’t have to do this survey if you don’t want to.
We remind you to please complete our Child Survey by _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper Child Survey form or
- Go online to: childsurvey.ncls.org.au
- And enter our Church Code: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thank you!
Note for parents and carers: The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of a Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. A Parent Information sheet and more information about the Child Survey is available at ncls.org.au/child-survey-instructions
Yours faithfully,
Final Call Template Text for the Child Survey
Use this text to send a final reminder to your children and their parents to complete the Child Survey. Remember to include your Church Code before sending.
CLOSING SOON: Don’t miss out on completing our Child Survey
Dear children,
Recently we sent you invitations to take part in our Child Survey.
We hope you will take part soon if you haven’t already done so.
You will be asked about your faith and about our church.
There are no right or wrong answers. We want to hear what you think. All of your answers are private. You don’t have to do this survey if you don’t want to.
Don’t miss out! Our Child Survey is closing on _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
TO TAKE PART:
- Complete a paper Child Survey form or
- Go to: childsurvey.ncls.org.au
- And enter our Church Code: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Note for parents and carers: The Survey is designed by NCLS Research, as part of a Church Life Survey and has Ethics approval from Charles Sturt University. A Parent Information sheet and more information about the Child Survey is available at ncls.org.au/child-survey-instructions
Yours faithfully,
