Information sheets

This range of information sheets offers practical strategies to support educators and providers to think about quality practice and topics related to the seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard.

Quality Area 1 – Educational program and practice

Topics

QA1 Be part of reconciliation

Fostering children’s understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and challenging biases can impact on children’s future attitudes towards cultural diversity.

QA1 Developing a culture of learning through reflective practice

When educators strive to assess and understand the impact of their practice, they are engaging in reflective practice.

QA1 Supporting agency: Involving children in decision-making

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states children have a right to be active participants in all matters affecting their lives.

Information Sheet - The legislative requirements of an in-nature program (In-nature information sheet 1)

QA1 The legislative requirements of an in-nature program

Information to support approved providers, nominated supervisors, coordinators, educators and teachers when considering an in-nature program in their children’s education and care service as part of the National Quality Framework.

QA1 The how and why of in-nature programs

Practical considerations when considering or developing an in-nature program, including how it reflects the unique context of your service, children, families and community.

Quality Area 2 – Children's health and safety

Topics

QA2 Toileting and nappy changing principles and practices

Safe and hygienic practices ensure children experience toileting and nappy changing that supports their health and wellbeing. Appropriate, respectful procedures and practices can promote learning and capacity building.

QA2 Active supervision: Ensuring safety and promoting learning

Children need safe and secure environments to thrive in their life and learning. Effective supervision is integral to creating environments that are safe and responsive to the needs of all.

QA2 Minimising the risk of children being mistakenly locked in or out of service premises

When incidents where children are mistakenly locked in or out of service premises occur, they can have severe consequences for children’s health and safety.

QA2 Minimising the risk of children being left in vehicles

Information for centre-based providers and services to support children's safety during regular transportation, and to support compliance with new legislative requirements from 1 March 2023.

QA2 Managing and responding to injury, trauma and illness incidents

The approved provider, nominated supervisors, coordinators and educators have responsibility for supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of all children. In exercising their responsibilities, they must take reasonable care to protect children from…

Quality Area 3 – Physical environment

Topics

QA3 Babies and outdoor play

Providing babies with quality care and education includes offering positive experiences in the natural outdoor environment.

QA3 Keeping pets and animals in education and care services

Having a pet at your service gives children the opportunity to observe, interact and learn about animals. It can be a valuable part of a child’s education and care experience.

QA3 The environment as 'The Third Teacher'

Contemporary theories and research informed by the Reggio Emilia approach recognise and value the environment as a ‘third teacher’.

QA3 Inclusive environments

An inclusive service environment is one where both indoor and outdoor spaces – natural and built – are organised and adapted to support every child’s participation and engage every child in quality experiences (Element 3.2.1).

Quality Area 4 – Staffing arrangements

Topics

QA4 Belonging, being and becoming for educators

The approved learning frameworks are designed to inspire conversations, improve communication and provide a common language about children’s learning.

Quality Area 5 – Relationships with children

Topics

QA5 Relationships with children

Research shows relationships are central to children developing acceptance, self-esteem and higher functioning thinking skills that contribute to positive learning and life outcomes.

QA5 Supporting children to regulate their own behaviour

From birth, children begin to explore how the social world works. Exploring and learning to manage feelings, behaviour, rights and responsibilities is a complex process.

Quality Area 6 – Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

Topics

QA6 Building partnerships with families

Research shows children are much more likely to reach their full potential in life when their family and education and care service work together.

QA6 Enrolment and orientation

Enrolment and orientation, when conducted well, are an opportunity to get to know each child and their family.

Quality Area 7 – Governance and Leadership

Topics

QA7 Supporting performance and the development of professionals

This information sheet talks about the responsibility of the approved provider of ensuring that each team member’s roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and performance is regularly evaluated.

QA7 The role of the educational leader

The educational leader has an influential role in promoting positive outcomes for children and families, and building the capacity of educators by inspiring, challenging and extending their practice and pedagogy.

QA7 Educational leadership and team building

The educational leader is responsible for leading the development of the curriculum at the service. To do this effectively the educational leader should encourage educators to collaborate and ensure the establishment of clear goals for teaching and learning.

QA7 Using complaints to support continuous improvement

Complaints and grievances can be opportunities for critical reflection and improving practices, relationships and outcomes for children and families.

QA7 Reviewing your service philosophy

The statement of philosophy reflects the beliefs and values of the service and assists educators in considering the service’s approach to learning, development and wellbeing.

General

Documenting programs for school age children

Explains: documentation requirements for all school age services; continuing documentation requirements for school age care services in the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia; documentation changes applying to…

Providing appropriate outdoor space

This information sheet provides information about providing appropriate outdoor space in education and care settings.

Protection of Personal Information

The Australian, State and Territory Education Ministers have agreed to changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) in relation to the protection of personal information.

Key changes for centre-based services from July 2023

This information sheet explains the key changes for centre-based services and providers.

cover of Muti-storey buildings: Evacuations and approvals information sheet

Multi-storey buildings: Evacuations and approvals

This information sheet provides services with guidance about requirements that apply to services in multi-storey buildings shared with other occupants and do not have direct egress.

NQF Design Considerations for Centre Based Early Childhood Education and Care Services in Multi-storey Buildings

Guidance for building practitioners and planning professionals to improve their NQF understanding for the evacuation of centre-based services in multi-storey buildings.

Changing your service (centre-based services)

The Australian, State and Territory Education Ministers have agreed to changes for approved providers of centre-based education and care services to maintain current information about service delivery, including notifying the…

Safe arrival of children

Information for educators about Safety of children during daily transitions between services including OSHC and school

Embedding the National Child Safe Principles

This information sheet supports approved providers and their services to increase awareness, foster positive cultural change, and promote and support child safe environments in children’s education and care environments.

Updating record keeping requirements to support child protection

This information sheet explains the changes, which are being made in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Transferring a service approval

This information sheet supports approved providers to understand the changes in notification timeframes and processes.

Evidence for waiver applications

Approved providers can apply for waivers from certain requirements of the National Regulations and the NQS.

Identifying persons with management or control of a service from 1 July 2023 – Prospective Providers (10.1)

Identifying persons with management or control of a service from 1 July 2023 – Existing Providers (10.1)

Safe transportation of children

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing their safe transportation of children policy and procedures.

Suspending or cancelling a provider approval under National Law from 1 July 2023 Attachment H 10.2

This fact sheet explains why this change is being made and how it relates to Australian Government decisions made under the Commonwealth Family Assistance Law (FAL).

The assessment and rating report

Information for providers on the assessment and rating report provided by the regulatory authority.

Using your assessment and rating report to support quality improvement

Practical ideas on how the assessment and rating process, including the National Quality Standard Assessment and Rating Report, promotes continuous quality improvement at your service.

Making quality assessment and rating more effective

From 2023, there will be some process refinements to how regulatory authorities' quality assess and rate services under the National Quality Framework (NQF). These process changes seek to make quality assessment and rating more effective.

Changes to regular transportation of children commencing 1 March 2023

Information for centre-based providers and services that explains new legislative requirements for children's safety during regular transportation, as required from 1 March 2023.

Safe transportation of children 'your questions answered'

Information for approved providers and their services answering common questions about the new requirements for the transportation of children.

Guidance for adequate supervision during transportation

Information for centre-based providers and services around adequate supervision and risk assessments to support children's safety during transportation.

Inappropriate discipline

Information for providers and service leaders on recognising and managing inappropriate discipline.

Practical ideas to support continuous quality improvement

Practical ideas for approved providers, service leaders, teachers and educators to support continuous quality improvement.

Become an early childhood education and care professional

A career in education and care makes a significant and lasting contribution to the lives of children, their wellbeing, development, education and lifelong learning.

Developing and reviewing your Quality Improvement Plan

Ongoing self-assessment against the National Quality Standard drives continuous improvement in practice, and therefore leads to better quality outcomes for children.

Supporting educator wellbeing through these challenging times

To build resilience, the development of strategies to support individual staff members and teams is now, more than ever, important.

Short-term relief of educators at centre-based services (7.1)

This fact sheet supports providers to understand changes affecting staffing and record keeping requirements when an educator or early childhood teacher is ill or absent.