The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority is the new governing body for quality childcare practice in Australia.
The National Quality Framework will implement a framework of National Quality Standards to ensure high quality, consistent early childhhod education across Australia. These changes acknowledge the breadth of research into early childhood learning and education and their importance in a child's development, and set a nationally recognised standard for education, health and safety and a child's well being.
The areas covered by the Standards are:
- Educational program and practice
- Children’s health and safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements (including the number of staff looking after children)
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Leadership and service management
The Standards will also form a part of the framework for the National Regulations which, when implemented in January 2012, will supersede the current state and territory regulations. The National Regulations need to be read in conjunction with Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010.
The Early Years Learning Framework is a curriculum based framework that provides guidance on a childs education in early childhood. For further information click here or visit the DEEWR website.
NEW JUST IN!
The finalised standard areas and elements have been released: click here
Community Child Care Cooperative Resource - NQF in a Box