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Rated Exceeding
National Quality Framework
What is the NQF?
The National Quality Framework (NQF) is a government system designed to make sure early childhood education and care services (like Kindergarten's and day-care centres) provide the best possible environment for your child to learn, grow, and thrive.
Why is the NQF important for your family?
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Quality and safety: The NQF sets clear standards that childcare and preschool services must meet to keep your child safe and supported.
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Improved learning: It ensures that your child is engaged in activities that support their development and learning at every stage.
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Transparency: You can easily compare different services because the NQF uses a rating system, so you know the quality of care your child will receive.
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Qualified educators: The framework requires educators to have proper training and ongoing professional development to give your child the best care and education.
What does the NQF cover?
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The National Quality Standard (NQS), which sets benchmarks for things like the learning program, health and safety, physical environment, and relationships.
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The Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, which are the rules that services must follow.
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A rating and assessment system to measure and share the quality of services with families.
How can you use this information?
When choosing childcare or preschool, check the service’s NQF rating — this gives you peace of mind that your child is in a high-quality environment that supports their development.
The Quality Areas of the NQF:
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The National Quality Framework (NQF) looks at different parts of early childhood services to make sure your child is getting the best care and education. These parts are called Quality Areas — there are seven of them. Here’s what each one means:
1. Educational program and practice
This means the activities and learning experiences your child takes part in every day. Educators plan fun and engaging programs that help your child learn new skills, explore their interests, and grow.
2. Children’s health and safety
Your child’s health and safety are a top priority. This area ensures the service keeps a clean, safe environment and takes steps to protect your child from illness and accidents.
3. Physical environment
This looks at the indoor and outdoor spaces where your child plays and learns. A good physical environment is safe, welcoming, and set up to encourage your child’s curiosity and independence.
4. Staffing arrangements
This means having the right number of qualified educators who know how to care for and support your child’s learning and development.
5. Relationships with children
Strong, respectful, and caring relationships between educators and children help your child feel safe, valued, and confident to explore and learn.
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6. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
Early childhood services work closely with families and communities. This means your ideas, culture, and needs are respected and included in your child’s learning journey.
7. Leadership and service management
Good leadership and well-run services make sure everything works smoothly — from the day-to-day care to planning improvements — so your child gets the best experience.