National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Age Care
Please click here to download this document (PDF)
Draft National Quality Framework Assessment and Rating Documentation
Around 200 education and care services are currently being assessed as part of the next phase of developing the new National Quality Standard assessment and ratings process. This phase is due for completion in early 2011. A range of preschools, long day care, family day care and out of school hours care services from across Australia volunteered to participate.
Copies of the supporting documentation that are currently being used in developing the assessment process are available at the links below and on the DEEWR website. Please note the assessment and rating process and documents are still under development by DEEWR. DEEWR say the draft documentation will be reviewed based on the results of the current phase of assessment and rating and it is expected that final versions will be released by mid-2011.
Overview document - provides an overview of, and context for, development of the process of assessment and rating of education and care services against the new National Quality Standard.
The Draft
Assessment and Ratings Instrument - assessors are
using this document at the service's site visit to record
observations and evidence to support the assessment and rating. It
is also used as the template for the post assessment report.
Services may also use this document to support their
self-assessment against the Standard.
Draft Guide to the National Quality Standard - this document explains what is required under each element and how the service may be assessed. Assessors also use this document as a reference for assessment purposes. Note: the Guide will be reviewed to ensure it aligns with regulations made under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and My Time, Our Place: Framework for school age care in Australia, once they have been finalised.
Draft Self Assessment and Quality
Improvement Planning Document - this
document services explains the self-assessment process and
expectations for completing a draft Quality Improvement Plan prior
to the assessment visit. It also provides a template.
Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms Regulation Impact Statement
A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) has been developed for the National Quality Agenda reform options to ensure that the community, particularly parents and the sector, have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed quality changes and their potential impact.
Please consult the Fact Sheet for an overview (PDF)
PSCQ suggests that services familiarise themselves with the Regulation Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms by working your way through the following documents:
Policy Overview (PDF)
Regulation Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms (PDF)
An economic analysis of the the proposed ECEC National Quality Agenda (PDF)
Further information
Please see the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) National Quality Framework webpage.
