Services receive a rating for each quality area and an overall rating. These ratings must be displayed by the service and will be published by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority and on the Starting Blocks website.
Self Assessment and Quality Improvement Plan
The Education and Care Services National Regulations 2012 set out that for each service, the approved provider must ensure that a Quality Improvement Plan, outlining key strengths, areas for improvement and reflecting on practice throughout the year, is developed and updated at least annually. The most recent version of the Quality Improvement Plan must be submitted to the Education and Care Regulatory Unit on request.
Assessing a service
The Education and Care Services National Regulations 2012 set out how services will be assessed. When assessing a service the Education and Care Regulatory Unit must:
- review service information (compliance history, rating and assessment history)
- review a service's current Quality Improvement Plan, and
- visit the service to observe practice.
Authorised officers who assess and rate services are appropriately qualified and trained in the assessment process. More information about the assessment and rating of education and care services is available at the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority website.
National Quality Framework
The National Quality Framework (NQF) is Australia’s system for regulating early learning and school age care including: legislation and national quality standard, and learning frameworks.
- Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012
- Education and Care Services National Regulations 2012
- National Quality Standard
- Early Years Learning Framework
- My Time Our Place
Useful links
- National Quality Standard
- Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority
- Starting Blocks website.
Resources for Assessment and Rating
Assessment and rating resources available from ACECQA
- Developing and reviewing your quality improvement plan
- Practical ideas to support continuous quality improvement
- Using your assessment and rating report to support quality improvement
- Podcast 4 Assessments
- The assessment and rating report
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Assessment and Rating Refinements
Video resource
During the 2022 ECRU Roadshows the Staffing Requirements presentation was shared to assist approved providers to understand their obligations beyond general ratio and qualification requirements.
