The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a unified national approach to regulation, assessment, and quality improvement for early childhood education, care, and outside school hours care (OSHC) services across Australia. It ensures that services operate under consistent regulations and work towards delivering high-quality outcomes for children.
The NQF includes four key components:
National Law and National Regulations
National Quality Standard (NQS)
Assessment and Quality Rating Process
National Learning Frameworks
National Law and Regulations
The National Law sets the national standard for children’s education and care services across Australia. The National Regulations complement this law by providing detailed operational education and care services requirements. Together, they outline the legal obligations of approved providers, nominated supervisors, and educators while defining the roles and powers of regulatory authorities and the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
Learn more about the National Law and Regulations | ACECQA.
National Quality Standard (NQS)
The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high benchmark for quality in early childhood and OSHC services in Australia. It focuses on seven quality areas, which are directly linked to two nationally approved learning frameworks:
Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for children aged 0-5.
My Time, Our Place for school-aged children.
Each service is assessed by regulatory authorities against these seven quality areas and receives an overall rating based on their performance.
Learn more about the National Quality Standard | ACECQA.
Assessment and Rating Process
Education and care services are assessed and rated by their state or territory regulatory authority against the seven quality areas outlined in the NQS. Based on these results, services are given individual ratings for each area and an overall rating. This process ensures that services are continually improving and meeting the high standards set by the NQF.
Learn more about the Assessment and Rating Process | ACECQA.
National Learning Frameworks
The National Quality Framework also incorporates two nationally approved learning frameworks that support educators in promoting children’s learning:
Belonging, Being, and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) supports the learning of children from birth to 5 years old.
My Time, Our Place (MTOP): This framework is designed for school-aged children.
Both frameworks guide educators by providing principles, practices, and learning outcomes that help them plan, deliver, and evaluate quality programs in early childhood and school-aged care settings.
Find more about the Approved Learning Frameworks | ACECQA.
The National Quality Framework is a critical structure that underpins the quality of education and care in Australia, ensuring children receive the best possible start in life. By understanding the components of the NQF—such as the National Law, NQS, assessment processes, and learning frameworks—educators and service providers can work towards maintaining high standards and improving the outcomes for children in their care.
Shannon.
