National Quality Framework Flashcards
When did the NQF start?
The National Quality Framework started on January 1st 2012 and key requirements are being phased in over time. Requirements such as qualification, educator-to-child ratios and other key staffing arrangements are being phased in between 2012 and 2020
What did the NQF replace?
The NQF replaced previous state and territory licensing and national quality assurance processes.
What are the 6 objectives of the NQF?
- TO ENSURE the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending education and care services
- TO IMPROVE the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending education and care services
- TO PROMOTE continuous improvement in the provision of quality education and care services
- TO ESTABLISH a system of national integration and shared responsibility between participating jurisdictions and the commonwealth in the administration of the NQF
- TO IMPROVE PUBLIC knowledge and access to info about the quality of education care and services
- TO REDUCE the regulatory and administrative burden for education and care services by enabling information to be shared between participating jurisdictions and the commonwealth
The National Quality Framework includes?
- A National legislative framework
- A National quality framework
- A National quality rating and assessment
- A Regulatory authority in each state and territory
- A National body - ACECQA
What does the National Legislative Framework consist of?
- The Education and Care Services National Law
- The Education and Care Services National Regulations
What are the 7 quality areas of the National Quality Standard?
- Education Program and Practice
- Children’s Health and Safety
- Physical Environment
- Staffing Arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative Partnerships with families & communities
- Leadership and service management
What is the national quality and rating assessment?
A process through which services are assessed against the National Quality Standard by regulatory authorities and provided with a quality rating
What does the regulatory authority in each state and territory do?
The regulatory authority in each state and territory has primary responsibility for the approval, monitoring and quality assessment of services in their jurisdiction in accordance with the national legislative framework and in relation to the NQS
What is ACECQA?
ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority) is a national body which oversees the new system and guides its implementation in a nationally consistent way
What is an approved learning framework?
Approved learning frameworks are what all programs must be based on. They consider the developmental needs, interests and experiences of each child and takes into account the individual differences of each child
Why were approved learning frameworks developed?
To guide educators in developing quality programs that support children’s learning
What is the hierarchy of the governance arrangements?
- SCSEEC - Standing Council for School Education and Early Childhood - Oversees implementation of NQF
- Makes the educator and care services national regulations
- Appoints members of the ACECQA board - ACECQA -Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority - Guides implementation of NQF
- Publishes guides and resources for the sector, parents and community
- Publishes and maintains national registers
- Promotes consistent application of national law
- Provides national oversight of the NQF - State/territory based regulatory authorities
- administer of the NQF
- issue approvals and supervisor certificates
- assess services against the NQS
- monitor and enforce national law
- review and investigate complaints
What does the National Law set out?
- approval processes for the operation of education and care services
- the rating and assessment process
- key operational requirements
- compliance, monitoring and enforcement powers
- review of decisions by regulatory authorities
- the functions and powers of the standing council
- the functions and powers of ACECQA
- the functions and powers of regulatory authorities
- Requirements for publications of information including registers
- key transitional arrangements
What do the National Regulations set out?
- Application processes for provider approval, service approval and supervisor certificates
- The process for ratings and assessments of services against the NQS including rating levels
- Minimum operational requirements around the 7 quality areas
- Arrangements to move existing services into the NQF
What is the NQS?
The NQS is a schedule to the national regulations