Service quality ratings
The National Quality Standard (NQS) has seven quality areas that are important for better health and education outcomes for children. Children’s education and care services are periodically assessed and rated against the NQS by regulatory authorities in each state/territory.
Separate to the assessment and rating process, regulatory authorities will visit services to check and monitor compliance with the requirements of the National Quality Framework, investigate complaints and respond to events such as serious incidents or changes of service ownership. Due to the importance in ensuring the safety of children, these visits make up the bulk of visits undertaken by regulatory authorities.
The National Quality Framework sets a high national standard to encourage services to continually improve their programs and practices.
1 - Educational program and practice
Your child is supported to participate in play and learning
2 - Children’s health and safety
Your child is protected from illness and hazards
3 - Physical environment
Your child plays in a safe and well maintained environment
4 - Staffing arrangements
There are enough qualified staff to give your child the attention they need
5 - Relationships with children
Your child is made to feel supported and welcomed
6 - Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
Local community involvement and respect for the beliefs and values of families
7 - Governance and leadership
Your child is cared for in a positive and well managed environment
They are given a rating for each NQS quality area and an overall National Quality Standard service quality rating based on these results. You may find this information helpful when choosing a service.
Excellent
Service promotes exceptional education and care, demonstrates sector leadership, and is committed to continually improving.
This rating can only be awarded by ACECQA.
Services rated Exceeding National Quality Standard in all 7 Quality Areas may choose to apply for this rating.
Exceeding National Quality Standard
Service goes beyond the requirements of the National Quality Standard in at least four of the seven quality areas.
Meeting National Quality Standard
Service meets the National Quality Standard.
Service provides quality education and care in all seven quality areas.
Working Towards National Quality Standard
Service provides a safe education and care program, but there are one or more areas identified for improvement.
Significant Improvement Required
Service does not meet one of the seven quality areas or a section of the legislation and there is a significant risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of children.
The regulatory authority will take immediate action.
Provisional - The service has not yet been assessed
You might come across a service with ‘Provisional - Not Yet Assessed'. This category relates to newly approved services who have not yet had a formal assessment and rating visit by a regulatory authority.
While a service may not have a formal quality rating, they have been assessed by regulatory authorities to have met the required national safety and compliance standards to commence operating and caring for children. Over the course of 9-18 months, regulatory authorities will monitor the performance of the service before formally assessing its quality and issuing it with a quality rating.