Information on the National Quality Framework February 2012 National Quality Framework

Session 1. Overview of the National Quality Framework Session 2.National Law and National Regulations Session 3.Assessment and Rating Process Session 4.Operational Requirements including National Quality Standard Session 5.Sector Support and Resources Welcome

Overview of the National Quality Framework Session 1

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 Objectives of the National Quality Framework

 The rights and best interests of the child are paramount  Children are successful, competent and capable learners  Equity, inclusion and diversity underpin the Framework  Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are valued  The role of parents and families is respected and supported  Best practice is expected in the provision of education and care services Guiding principles of the National Quality Framework

 The National Quality Framework includes: o a new national legislative framework o the National Quality Standard o an assessment and rating system o a Regulatory Authority in each State and Territory o the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). National Quality Framework

 The Board appointments are as follows: o Chief Executive Officer - Karen Curtis o Chairperson - Rachel Hunter o Deputy Chairperson - Prof. Collette Tayler Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority Board members: Tracey BradleyMark Brown Prof. Allison ElliottGayle GinnaneTonia Godhard AM Prof.Pauline HarrisSusan LinesMichael Manthorpe June McLoughlinAmanda MorphettAnne Reddell

 Each State and Territory has appointed a Regulatory Authority.  The Regulatory Authority: o provides advice and guidance about the National Quality Framework to services and the community o administers the National Quality Framework o assesses approved education and care services against the National Quality Standard and the Regulations and determines the ratings of those services o monitors and enforces compliance o receives and investigates notifications of serious incidents and complaints. Regulatory Authorities

 The Regulatory Authority in Victoria is the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development  The newly formed Quality Assessment and Regulation Division will: o encompass all previous regional children’s services teams o coordinate all service approval functions o monitor the assessment and ratings processes against the NQF o implement policy and support Authorised Officers. The Regulatory Authority

 Regulatory tools include: o monitoring compliance o undertaking assessment and rating visits o undertaking a schedule of visits, announced, unannounced, random, and targeted campaigns o investigating notifications o compliance action. Monitoring and enforcement

Map of the National Quality Framework and resources

National Law and National Regulations Session 2

National Law  Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 National Regulations  Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011  National Quality Standard National legislative framework

Any service providing or intending to provide education and care on a regular basis to children under the age of 13 years which INCLUDES: o preschools (kindergartens) o long day care o outside school hours care o family day care services. Services covered by the National Law

Services excluded by the National Law  A school providing full-time education to children, including children attending in the year before grade 1 but not including a preschool program delivered in a school or a preschool that is registered at a school  Preschool programs delivered in a school if (i) the program is delivered in a class or classes where a full-time education program is also being delivered; and (ii) the program is being delivered to fewer than 6 children in the school  Personal arrangements  A service principally conducted to provide instruction is a particular activity e.g. dance classes, homework clubs  A service providing education and care to patients in a hospital or patients of a medical or therapeutic care service  Care provided under a child protection law

 In Victoria this means: o limited hours or short term licence services o occasional care services providing ad hoc care o early childhood intervention services o mobile services o some school holiday care programs o budget-based funded services without CCB. These services continue to operate under the Victorian children’s services legislation. Services excluded by the National Regulations

Transition - National Quality Framework Approved provider Licensee Person with management or control Representative Nominated supervisor Primary nominee Certified supervisor Approved nominee Approved service Licensed service

 The new approval system has replaced the current licensing system for services operating under the National Law  There are three inter-related approval processes: 1.Provider approval 2.Service approval 3.Supervisor Certificate. The national approval system

 Provider approval is a national ongoing approval to operate services  Allows a provider to apply for one or more service approvals in any jurisdiction  An individual applicant must meet fit and proper requirements  If not an individual, each person in management or control must meet fit and proper requirements Provider approval

Responsible persons centre-based services Responsible person At a centre-based service a responsible person must be physically present at all times Needs to be either a : Approved provider or person in management and control Assessed and granted to a legal entity or person with management or control that will operate the education and care service. Nominated supervisor All services must have a nominated supervisor as part of the service approval A nominated supervisor must have a supervisor certificate. Certified supervisor Makes a person eligible to be put in day-to-day charge of a service in the absence of the approved provider or nominated supervisor.

 Family day care services must ensure that: o an approved provider or person with management or control; or o a nominated supervisor; or o a certified supervisor is available to educators including being contactable by phone. Family day care staffing requirements

 There are two types of service approvals: o centre-based services includes: long day care, preschool or kindergarten and outside school hours care services o family day care services.  An annual fee applies  Existing licenses must be displayed whilst awaiting service approval. Service approval

 Provisions have been made under the National Law for associated services  The National Law contains provisions for an associated service to operate under one Service Approval  Associated services will continue to comply with the Victorian children’s services legislation in relation to the standards that apply Associated Services

 A person to be put in day-to-day charge of the service must meet the following: o be 18 years or over o satisfy the Regulatory Authority that they are a fit and proper person to be the supervisor of a service including mandatory criminal history information (Working with Children Check) o the applicant must have – ―adequate knowledge and understanding of the provision of education and care to children ―the ability to effectively supervise and manage an education and care service ―the applicant must have either – ―3 years experience or an approved diploma or early childhood teaching qualification (not a requirement for OSHC services). Supervisor Certificates

 The Regulatory Authority may grant a supervisor certificate to a prescribed class of person, such as: o a principal of a school on a school site o a person in charge of a campus of a school that provides an education and care service at that campus. Supervisor Certificates

 Requires a person to hold a supervisor certificate  All services must have a nominated supervisor  The nominated supervisor is responsible with the approved provider for compliance with the National Law and National Regulations Nominated Supervisor

Assessment and Rating Process Session 3

 Promotes continuous quality improvement  Measures the aspects of quality that contribute to better outcomes for children  Places an educational lens on assessment of services and considers pedagogy  Is technically valid, robust and a consistent assessment and rating process across Australia  Provides meaningful, transparent and reliable information to parents and families about the quality of early childhood education and care services  Ratings publicly available Assessment and rating

National Quality Standard  The new National Quality Standard is divided into 7 quality areas that contribute to the quality of early childhood education and care 1.Educational program and practice 2.Children’s health and safety 3.Physical environment 4.Staffing arrangements 5.Relationships with children 6.Collaborative partnerships with families and communities 7.Leadership and service management

Rating names Provisional rating Until a service is first assessed under the National Law it will have a rating of Provisional - Not yet assessed under the National Quality Framework Rating levels Key changes from exposure draft Exposure draftNational Regulations ExcellentExcellent rating High QualityExceeding National Quality Standard National Quality StandardMeeting National Quality Standard FoundationWorking Towards National Quality Standard UnsatisfactorySignificant Improvement Required

 Significant Improvement Required – service is not meeting the National Quality Standard and this constitutes a risk to the health safety and wellbeing of a child and the regulator is working with the service  Working Towards National Quality Standard – generally every year for a full assessment  National Quality Standard – generally every two years for a full assessment  Exceeds National Quality Standard – generally every three years for a full assessment  Excellent – generally every three years for a full assessment Earned autonomy system

 Services are required to complete a self assessment against the National Quality Standard. This includes: o gathering information from management; educators; families and others.  In order to develop a Quality Improvement Plan services are required to: o reflect on and evaluate practice o identify strengths and areas for improvement o develop strategies and timelines to achieve goals o outline the statement of philosophy of the service. Quality Improvement Plans

 From 30 April 2012 all existing services must have completed a self-assessment against the National Quality Standard and have a Quality Improvement Plan available at the service. o New services must submit a Quality Improvement Plan to the Regulatory Authority within 3 months of the service approval being granted. o Assessment and rating visits will commence in mid June Assessment and rating process in 2012

 Assessment and rating visits will be announced  Proposed length of visit (1-5 days)  Assessors will: o consider compliance history o consider the Quality Improvement Plan o observe the programs provided on the day o have discussion with educators and providers o sight documentation. Assessment and rating process

StepsProcess 1.Notice to submit QIP Advice to providers with request to submit a Quality Improvement Plan within 6 weeks. 2.Notice of visit Providers will receive advice that QIP has been received and notifying the date for the site visit. 3.Site visitSite visit occurs around week Draft assessment report Approved provider will be sent a draft of the assessment report by week 15. The provider will have an opportunity to provide comment, and submit evidence of compliance within 10 working days. 5.Feedback considered Feedback on report considered by Regulatory Authority (week 18). 6.Final ratingReport is finalised and final rating determined. Report is sent to approved provider (week 20). Assessment and rating process

Operational Requirements including National Quality Standard Session 4

1. Educational program and practice 2. Children’s health and safety 3. Physical environment 4. Staffing arrangements 5. Relationships with children 6. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities 7. Leadership and service management Operational Requirements and the National Quality Standard

 Approved services must provide an educational program that is: o delivered based on an approved learning framework o based on the developmental needs, interests and experiences of each child o takes into account the individual differences of each child.  Requirements for: o documenting child assessments or evaluations o ensure information about the educational program is available o providing information about the educational program to parents on request. Educational program and practice Quality Area 1 Educational program and practice

Approved National Frameworks The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia  for educators working with children aged birth to 5  5 learning outcomes  pedagogy, principles and practice My Time, Our Place  for educators working in school aged care  5 learning outcomes  Belonging, Being & Becoming reinforced Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework  For all professionals working with children from birth to 8 years Quality Area 1 Educational program and practice

 The National Law contains important provisions relating to children’s health and safety, including: o adequate supervision of children o protection of children from harm and hazards o offence to use inappropriate discipline. Children’s health and safety Quality Area 1 Educational program and practice

 Ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children including: o incidents, injury, trauma and illness o medical conditions policy and administration of medication o emergencies and communication o collection of children from premises and excursions o Child Protection awareness.  For children over preschool age: o recognition of self-administration of medicine by children over preschool age o recognition that children may leave premises with written authorisation. Children’s health and safety Quality Area 2 Children’s health and safety

 Ensure the safety, health, and wellbeing of children on excursions: o Undertake a risk assessment to identify and assess any risks including hazards, transport, supervision and activity o Parental supervision  Amended regulation: o Recognises that movement within a service premises is no longer defined as an excursion Excursions Quality Area 2 Children’s health and safety

 Many requirements focus on outcomes. For example: o equipment to be safe, clean and good repair o ensure fencing is of a height and design that children preschool age and under cannot go through, over or under o services which don’t have laundry facilities may meet the requirement by ensuring the services has other arrangements in place for dealing with soiled items o removal of prohibition on swimming pools (existing bans retained in Tasmania and New South Wales) o different requirements for outdoor space for older children. Physical environment Quality Area 3 Physical environment

 An existing family day care residence or venue does not need to meet the fencing requirements of regulation 104 until the venue or residence is renovated  For the purpose of a rating assessment a family day care service is taken to comply with that regulation until 31 December 2015 Physical environment – Family Day Care Quality Area 3 Physical environment

 Educational leader o A suitably qualified and experienced educator, co-ordinator or other individual is designated in writing as an educational leader at the service to lead the development and implementation of educational programs in the service  Working directly with children o For the purpose of calculating ratios educators are physically present with the children and directly engaged in providing education and care to children  For teachers in attendance at a centre-based service o Is present at the service and may include working directly with children, planning, mentoring, facilitating research, performing the role of educational leader Staffing arrangements new definitions Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 Family day care educators and educator assistants on engagement or registration must hold a valid: o Working with Children Check o Criminal History Record Check  Educators in centre-based services on engagement must hold a: o Working with Children Check  Limited exceptions o Teachers with VIT registration are not required to have a working with children check o Under 18 years Fitness and propriety prior to engagement Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

Educator to child ratio: Family day care Family day care service 7 children at a family day care residence or venue at any one time. No more than 4 children can be preschool age or under (including the educator’s own children if they are under 13 years of age, and there is no other adult present and caring for these children). Children visiting a residence or venue are excluded from the maximum number of children. In exceptional circumstances the ratios can be exceeded for example all children are siblings; if a child needs protection under child protection law or no alternative care available in a remote or rural area. Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 Children aged less than 36 months o a ratio of 1 educator to 4 children o at least 1 of every 3 educators required to meet relevant ratios must have at least an approved diploma level education and care qualification.  Children preschool age or under who are aged 36 months or over o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 1 of every 2 required educators required to meet relevant ratios must have at least an approved diploma level qualification.  Children over preschool age o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 50 per cent of educators required to meet the relevant ratio must have or be enrolled in and studying for at least an approved diploma level qualification Staffing arrangements: centre-based services from 1 January 2012 Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 Children aged less than 36 months o a ratio of 1 educator to 4 children o at least 50 per cent of educators required to meet relevant ratios must have or be actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.  Children preschool age or under who are aged 36 months or over o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 50 per cent of educators required to meet relevant ratios must have or be actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.  Children over preschool age o A ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 50 percent of educators required to meet relevant ratios must have or be enrolled and studying for at least an approved diploma level qualification. Staffing arrangements : centre-based services from 1 January 2014 Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 Children aged less than 36 months o a ratio of 1 educator to 4 children o at least 50 percent of educators required to meet relevant ratios have or are actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.  Children preschool age or under who are aged 36 months o A ratio of 1 educator to 11 children o At least 50 percent of educators required to meet relevant ratios have or are actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.  Children over preschool age o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 50 percent of educators are required to have or be enrolled and studying for at least an approved diploma level qualification. Staffing arrangements : centre-based services from 1 January 2016 Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

Early childhood teacher requirements Date required Children attending/approved places Teacher in attendance 1 January 2014 Less than 25 children or approved places < 25 Access for at least 20% of the time the service operates 25 to 59 childrenFor at least 6 hours per day or 60% of the operating hours of the service Approved places 25 to 59Engages a full-time teacher 60 to 80 children6 hours a day or 60% of the operating hours Second teacher for 3 hours a day or 30% of the operating hours 1 January 2016 Approved places 60 to 80Engages a full time teacher and a second half full time teacher More than 80 childrenTwo teachers 6 hours per day of 60% of the operating hours Approved places > 80Engages two full time teachers Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 In regard to early childhood teacher requirements a transitional provision allows a person to be taken to be an early childhood teacher in the period from 1 January 2014 to 1 January 2016 if they are actively working towards an early childhood teaching qualification if they have completed 50 per cent of the course or hold a diploma level education and care qualification.  Please note that Kindergarten Funding and Policy Guidelines in Victoria would still require a kindergarten program to be delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher. Qualified staff: transitional and savings provisions Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 Early childhood teachers o recognised under former law or for the purposes of preschool funding o hold a qualification on list published by ACECQA o immediately before 1 January 2012 were recognised, registered, or accredited.  Diploma and Certificate III level qualifications o recognised under a former law o held a qualification on list published by ACECQA. Qualified staff: savings provisions Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 From 1 January 2014 all centre-based and family day care educators must have, or be actively working towards at least an approved certificate III level education and care qualification.  Educators at a centre-based service who have been continuously employed as an educator for 15 years immediately before 1 January 2012 are not required to hold (or be actively working towards) a certificate III level qualification until 31 December  The requirements do not apply to educators who have completed by 31 December 2011 an approved professional development course. Certificate III level qualifications Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 Services must now ensure at least one educator is in attendance and immediately available in an emergency. Services must ensure that they have at least: o one holder of a current approved first aid qualification o one educator that has undertaken approved anaphylaxis management training o one educator that has undertaken approved emergency asthma management training (this is not a requirement until 2013).  Family day care educators and educator assistants must adhere to all three requirements. First aid qualifications Quality Area 4 Staffing arrangements

 An approved provider must take reasonable steps to ensure education and care is provided in a way that: o encourages children to express themselves and their opinions o gives children the opportunity to become self reliant and develop self-esteem o maintains at all times the dignity and rights of each child o gives positive guidance and encourages acceptable behaviour o has regard to the family and cultural values, age, physical and intellectual development and abilities of each child being educated and cared for by the service. Relationships with children Quality Area 5 Relationships with children

 Parents are permitted to enter the service premises at any time their child is being educated and cared for by the service, as long as there is no risk to the health and safety of children or staff at the service, no conflict with the duty of the provider, supervisor or educator under the Law, and no court order prohibiting contact with the child  Many other regulations relate to collaboration with families Collaborative partnerships with families and communities Quality Area 6 Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

The approved provider must ensure the service has in place policies and procedures in relation to the following: Leadership and service management - policies Quality Area 7 Leadership and service management health and safetydealing with medical conditions interactions with children delivery and collection of children emergency and evacuation governance and management of the service excursionsincident, injury trauma and illness enrolment and orientation refusal of authorisations for a child to leave the service providing a child safe environment payment of fees dealing with infectious disease staffingdealing with complaints

 Family Day Care must have additional prescribed policies and procedures in place, they include: o the assessment and approval and reassessment of approved family day care residences and venue o engagement or registration of family day care educators o monitoring, support and supervision of family day care educators o assessment of educators, assistants and persons residing on the residence o information, assistance and training to family day care educator engagement or registration of assistants. o visitors Leadership and service management – Family Day Care Quality Area 7 Leadership and service management

 Notification to the Regulatory Authority o The Regulatory Authority must be notified within the prescribed time of any changes in relation to the approved providers, nominated supervisors and premises.  Serious incidents and complaints o The Regulatory Authority must be notified within 24 hours of a serious incident or complaint. Leadership and service management Quality Area 7 Leadership and service management

 Records o Including assessments of children’s learning, evidence of public liability insurance, medication, child attendance, child enrolment, incidents, record of service’s compliance history, staff records, record of educators working directly with children, volunteers.  Display o A range of matters required to be displayed including approvals, rating, hours of operation, educational leader, responsible person, nominated supervisor, complaints information, details of any waivers. Leadership and service management Quality Area 7 Leadership and service management

Sector support and resources Session 5

Map of the National Quality Framework resources

 Information about the National Quality Framework is available on the ACECQA website at o National Law and approved National Regulations o Fact sheets o Guide to the National Law and Regulations (available shortly) o Guide to the National Quality Standard o Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plan o Application forms and information for providers, services and certified supervisors o Qualification, lists and registers National sector support and resources

Facts sheets on the National Quality Framework can be found at Sector support and resources for Victorian Services

Questions and Answers Session 6