2. Self-assessment and quality improvement planning

[ National Regulations, Regulation 55 ] Ongoing self-assessment against the National Quality Standard (NQS) drives continuous improvement and is essential to providing quality outcomes for children.

Under the National Regulations, the approved provider must ensure a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) is in place for each service.

The purpose of the QIP (or Self-Assessment Working Document in NSW) is to help providers self-assess their performance in delivering quality education and care, and to plan future improvements. The QIP also helps regulatory authorities with the assessment of the service. The QIP does not have to be provided in any specific format, but must include the three required components outlined below. The QIP can be uploaded to the NQA ITS or via any other jurisdictional specific submission process. The QIP is an enabler of continuous improvement and encourages self-reflection and self-assessment of quality areas. Whenever the QIP is updated, the uploaded version will need to be revised to reflect any changes because the uploaded version will be used by regulatory authorities for assessment and rating. 

A QIP must:

• include an assessment by the approved provider of the quality of the practices of the service against the NQS and the National Law and Regulations
• identify areas that the approved provider considers may require improvement
• include a statement of philosophy for the service.

The following section explains the three components of the QIP.

Self-assessment

The first step in the quality improvement planning process is to conduct a self-assessment.

Self-assessment involves critically reflecting on current practice at the service, deciding what is being done well and identifying opportunities for improvement.

The approved provider, educators and management should be familiar with the NQS and related regulatory requirements and reflect on practice, policies and procedures against the seven (7) quality areas of the NQS and related regulatory requirements. This will provide an informed picture of:

• current practice
• the quality of education and care experienced by children and families.

This picture of current practice highlights and confirms the service’s strengths and is the starting point for planning to improve quality.

The National Quality Standard includes a set of reflective questions that serve as prompts to explore current practice at the service. This can assist the provider to think about how and why things are done in a particular way while reflecting on specific practices to determine the:

• effectiveness of practice for all children and families
• relevance of the practice to the service and its stakeholders
• equity and fairness of the practice for all children, families and educators.

Areas for improvement

Reflection determines quality improvements

Following the reflection and self-assessment of current practice in the service, the next step is to identify the opportunities where quality improvements can be made and to plan effectively to implement them.

It is important to be open, honest and critically reflective when undertaking the self-assessment and quality improvement planning processes.

Turning reflection into quality improvement strategies

The QIP must include strategies to address the areas for further improvement identified during the self-assessment process.

A service rated Meeting or Exceeding NQS in all quality areas should be able to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement by documenting how the service will continue to explore opportunities to improve quality.

Statement of philosophy

The statement of philosophy describes the service’s values, beliefs and understandings about children, families, the role of educators and the ways children learn. To meet the NQS, the statement of philosophy should be used to guide all aspects of the service’s operations.

It is recommended educators, families and children be involved in the development and review of the service’s philosophy statement. Regular review of the philosophy in light of new research, the approved learning frameworks, and families’ views and expectations will support the service’s goals for quality education and care, and continuous improvement.

Quality Improvement Plan: the main points

Submit the plan: timeline for new services

[ National Regulations, Regulations 55–56 ] The approved provider must ensure that a QIP (or a Self-Assessment Working Document in NSW) is prepared for a new service within three months of the service approval being granted, and must provide the QIP to the regulatory authority on request. Approved providers should ensure an up-to-date QIP is uploaded to the National Quality Agenda IT System portal or via any other jurisdiction specific submission process. The regulatory authority will use the uploaded QIP for assessment and rating purposes.

Update the plan: requirements for existing services

The QIP is designed to be a dynamic, evolving document which enables continuous improvement, self-assessment and self-reflection. Approved providers should ensure an up-to-date QIP is uploaded to the National Quality Agenda IT System portal or via any other jurisdiction specific submission process. The regulatory authority will use the uploaded QIP for assessment and rating purposes.

Review the plan annually

[ National Regulations, Regulation 56 ] The approved provider must review and revise the QIP at least annually, having regard to the NQS, and at any time when directed by the regulatory authority. Approved providers should ensure an up-to-date QIP is uploaded to the National Quality Agenda IT System portal or via any other jurisdiction specific submission process. The regulatory authority will use the uploaded QIP for assessment and rating purposes. The provider must submit the most current copy of the QIP to the regulatory authority on request. 

Developing the QIP

Visit the ACECQA website (acecqa.gov.au) to download an optional QIP template. Approved providers can use an alternate format however information required under regulation 55 must be included.

When writing the QIP, providers should reflect on the outcomes of the self-assessment process. Services may prioritise areas for improvement against the seven (7) quality areas of the NQS and the related regulatory requirements. There is no requirement that all 15 standards and 40 elements are addressed in the QIP. The QIP should include the key areas for improvement.

Services may have a range of documents that assist and record the planning process. The QIP is a summary of the key areas prioritised for improvement.

Collaborate when developing the plan

Developing the service’s plan can be a collaborative process which involves children, families, educators, staff members, management and other interested parties, such as representatives of the community or agencies that work with the service to support the inclusion of children.

Update the plan after assessment and rating

It is recommended the QIP is updated after the assessment and rating process is completed to reflect the outcomes of the assessment and rating process.

Keep a current QIP at the service and make it available to families and regulators

[ National Regulations, Regulation 31 ] A service approval is granted subject to the condition that the approved provider ensure a current QIP is kept on the premises of the service at all times or, in the case of a family day care service, at the principal office of the family day care service.

The QIP must also be available on request for inspection by the regulatory authority and to parents of a child who is enrolled or who is seeking to enrol at the service.