37th NQF Snapshot report shows sustained improvement in children’s education and care quality

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) today released its 37th NQF Snapshot report, summarising quality rating results for education and care services operating under the National Quality Framework (NQF). The NQF includes the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations, which outline the minimum standards and requirements that all providers must meet to operate services. It also includes the National Quality Standard (NQS), which sets a high national benchmark and includes seven quality areas directly related to service quality.

The proportion of services rated by state and territory regulatory authorities as Meeting NQS or above has risen markedly since the NQF was introduced, from 57% in 2013, to 69% in 2016, to 87% today. More than two-thirds of services rated Working Towards NQS (67%) improved their overall quality rating at reassessment.

"These results reflect the hard work of service providers, teachers and educators to improve their programs and practice and the quality of their services,” said ACECQA CEO Gabrielle Sinclair.

“The number of services rated Working Towards NQS by state and territory regulatory authorities continues to decline. Many services rated Working Towards NQS are also close to being rated Meeting NQS. For example, 43% of services rated Working Towards NQS received that rating due to not meeting only one or two of the seven quality areas of the NQS,” noted Ms Sinclair.

In addition to detailed information about the quality of education and care services, the Snapshot and interactive Online Snapshot include data about temporary service closures related to the impact of COVID-19 and other aspects of service regulation, such as staffing waivers.