National quality standard appletree hill preschool. Quality area 1 educational program and practice early. Nqs does not specify what types of documentation educators should use, or produced. Quality area 1 educational program and practice comment summary sample comments educational program and practice maybe a progress meeting with each parent to discuss child once in a while there is no indication on how well child is progressing or opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns. Educational program and practice following the staff 2 day professional learning the early years have begun using a new program talk 4 writing. Scheduling outdoor activities and excursions quality area 1. Quality area 1 educational program and practice acecqa. August 2015 policy name educational program and practice quality area one policy type childrens services purpose at northside community services, the early years learning framework eylf informs and. The implementation of the national quality framework nqf was designed to drive ongoing improvements within australias childcare sector.
To develop your quality improvement plan, your service must undertake a selfassessment to demonstrate how you are meeting the national quality standards in each quality area. The seven quality areas covered by the national quality standard are. Quality area 1 provides a strong focus on enhancing childrens learning and development through the. Services with four or more quality areas rated as exceeding nqs, including two of the key quality areas qa1, qa5, qa6 or qa7 will receive an overall rating of exceeding nqs. Our quality improvement plan aims to continue promoting healthy lifestyles with children and families eg. Copyprocighcotg 10 three guide to the national quality standard summary table of quality areas, standards and elements qa1 educational program and practice 1. What is the focus of quality area 1, educational program and practice. This quality area of the national quality standard focuses on ensuring that the educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging and enhances childrens learning and development.
Child australia a revised nqs will be introduced on 1 february 2018. This paper offers detailed insights into education and care service quality ratings for quality area 1 educational program and practice, which focuses on ensuring that educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging, enhances childrens learning and development, and meets childrens. Educational program and practice nqs quality area 5. Part of the standard is that each childs current knowledge, ideas, culture, abilities and interests are the foundation of the program element 1. Start studying nqs national quality standards qa 1 educational program and practice. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. By dr brenda abbey this article suggests %ve steps to help your service meet these requirements. Educational program and practice learning and skills is one of the key components of the whole service approach to health and wellbeing advocated by the achievement program. Nqs national quality standards qa 1 educational program. The aim of quality area 1 of the national quality standard is to ensure that the. National law and national regulations underpinning quality area 1. This is a video series for parents and families of children who attend early childhood or.
Related sections of the national law and national regulations 45. The paper provides a brief overview of the nqs, its rating system, quality areas and overall ratings to date. Although the steps are simple, the result is that parents are more likely to. In the first instalment, we consider the challenges and requirements of quality area 1 and element 1. Early childhood education and care sunsmart policy and the. A rating of exceeding nqs means going above and beyond what is expected at the meeting nqs level for a standard. Educational program and practice national workshop participant. Sleep, rest and relaxation and the national quality standard.
National quality standard 3 physical environment first. How to achieve quality area 1 aussie childcare network. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities. Each quality area comprises standards highlevel outcome statements and elements outcomes which contribute to meeting the standards. The national quality framework nqf has six objectives which are set out in the children education and care service. Chcece009 use an approved learning framework to guide. National quality standard concept descriptor qa1 educational program and practice 1. National quality standard for ecec children aged 35 years sleep, rest, and relaxation are directly addressed in the national quality standard nqs in quality area 2. Nqs quality area 1, reflective practice the national quality standard 1. During the month of september, we hear you will be featuring a special threepart series exploring the ongoing planning cycle and documentation unpacking the planning cycle. Quality area 1 quality area 1 quality area 1 quality area 1. Welcome to the acecqa guide to the national quality framework. Inclusion and equity policy best practice quality area 1. This occasional paper is the first in a series on the national quality framework nqf.
An analysis of quality area 1 of the national quality. It then examines quality area 1 looking at differences across jurisdictions, management types, service subtypes, and socioeconomic and remoteness classifications. Linking the aedc with the national quality standard. November 2019 uncontrolled copy when printed hdka promotes a commitment to child safety, wellbeing, participation, empowerment, cultural. The national quality standard nqs is a key aspect of the national quality framework nqf and sets a high, national benchmark for early childhood education and care services in australia.
Undertaking selfassessment and quality improvement in quality area 1. The aim of quality area 1 of the national quality standard is to ensure that the educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging, and enhances childrens learning and development. The nqs includes 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children. Links between the eylf, the nqs, and everyday practice. This program has been used by many other schools in australia and even other countries around the world. Background on nqs the nqs consists of seven quality areas that are important to outcomes for children. Quality area 1 of the national quality standard focuses on ensuring that the educational program and practice of educators are childcentred, stimulating and maximise opportunities for enhancing and extending each childs learning and development. From 1 february 2018, new guidance on determining the exceeding national quality standard nqs rating level for standards will apply to quality rating assessments. Assessment and rating is central to building understanding among families and the wider community on the importance of quality for childrens outcomes, and how to recognise quality when they see it. Getting to know the nqs early childhood resource hub. Quality area 6 collaborative partnerships with families and communities. Critical reflection is a key aspect of an early childhood educators professional and reflective practice. National quality standard and victorias healthy children initiatives fact sheet pdf 215. Are you exceeding the 2018 national quality standard.
The table below shows the sections of the national law and national regulations underpinning quality area 1 and lists the most relevant element of the nqs associated with each section and regulation. Quality area 1 educational program and practice quality area 1 focuses on ensuring that the educational program and practice of educators are childcentred, stimulating and maximise opportunities for enhancing and extending each childs play and learning. In a world thats changing quickly, our childrenneed to develop knowledge, skills, and values. Leadership and service management 3 ccsa 1st floor, 77 parke street, po box 118 katoomba nsw 2780 t 1800 991 602 or 02 4782 1470 f 02 4782 4425 w. Exceeding the national quality standard quality area 1.
The nqs consists of seven quality areas, each containing standards and elements, that childrens education and care services are assessed and rated against. Guide to the national quality standard child australia online. Quality area 3 looks at the services physical environment. Educational program and practice the first opportunity to learn about children starting at the centre comes with the enrolment interview, where families are taken through a questionnaire about their childs development, interests, strengths and areas for growth.
Sleep, rest, and relaxation are explicitly addressed in quality area 2 under childrens health and safety. In outside school hours care a quality educational program views children as capable and competent learners who have. Additional information and resources about quality area 1 are available in the. Essential to achieving quality outcomes for children in all education and care services is achieving collaborative relationships with families, engaging with the services community and building and maintaining effective partnerships. Summary table of quality areas, standards and elements. The table below shows the sections of the national law and national regulations underpinning quality area 1 and lists the most relevant element of the nqs. The national quality standard nqs is a key aspect of the nqf. Although there are 7 quality areas, this area is the one that a lot of services ask for assistance on the most. Quality area 2 of the nqs, childrens health and safety, highlights a holistic approach to health, safety and wellbeing and asks us to take the whole child into consideration. However, in keeping with the spirit of the nqs, and a holistic approach to ecec, all quality areas are relevant to sleep, rest, and relaxation. Sleep, rest, and relaxation and the national quality.