Guide to the National Quality Framework - ACECQA

1 Guide TO THE. National Quality . Framework . First published February 2018. Last updated October 2018. 2018 Australian Children's Education and Care Quality authority Copyright in this resource (including, without limitation, text, images, logos, icons, information, data, documents, pages and images) ( the material ) is owned or licensed by us. Copyright in material provided by Commonwealth, State or Territory agencies, private individuals or organisations may belong to those agencies, individuals or organisations and be licensed to us. Subject to any contrary statement on relevant material, you may use any of the material in this resource for your personal and non-commercial use or use on behalf of your organisation for non-commercial purposes, provided that an appropriate acknowledgement is made (including by retaining this notice where the whole or any part is reproduced or used without material alteration), and the material is not subjected to derogatory treatment.

2 Apart from any other use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), all other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning further authorisation should be addressed to: The Copyright Officer ACECQA . PO Box A292. SYDNEY NSW 2000. Or emailed to CONTENTS. SECTION 1 SECTION 3. INTRODUCTION National Quality . STANDARD AND. SECTION 2 ASSESSMENT AND RATING. APPLICATIONS AND 1. Introduction 88. APPROVALS 2. Guide to the National Quality Standard 92. 1. Provider and service approvals 18 Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice 93. 1. Provider approval 19 Standard : Program 96. Application for provider approval 19 Standard : Practice 110. Considering an application for fitness Standard : Assessment and planning 123.

3 And propriety 21 Quality Area 2: Children's health and safety 138. Amending provider approval on application 27 Standard : Health 140. Amending provider approval without application 29 Standard : Safety 160. Determining an application for provider approval in Quality Area 3: Physical environment 176. case of death or incapacity of approved provider 30. Standard : Design 178. Voluntary suspension of provider approval 32. Standard : Use 188. surrender of provider approval 34. Quality Area 4: Staffing arrangements 202. Exercise of powers by another regulatory authority 34 Standard : Staffing arrangements 203. Offence related to provider approval 35 Standard : Professionalism 215. Additional information 35 Quality Area 5: Relationships with children 224.

4 2. Service approval 36 Standard : Relationships between educators and children 226. What is an education and care service? 36. Standard : Relationships between children 238. Application for service approval 38. Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families Amending service approval on application 48 and communities 248. Amendment of service approval Standard : Supportive relationships with families 250. without application 50. Standard : Collaborative partnerships 265. Offences related to service approval 50. Quality Area 7: Governance and leadership 278. Transfer of service approval 51. Standard : Governance 280. Suspension of service approval 54. Standard : Leadership 298. Voluntary suspension of service approval 55.

5 surrender of service approval 57 3. Assessment and rating process 314. 1. Introduction 314. 2. Fees 58. 2. Self-assessment and Quality improvement 3. Waivers and other applications 60 planning 316. 3. Waivers 60 3. The rating system 320. Application for service waiver 60 4. H. ow is an assessment and rating visit conducted? 326. Application for temporary waiver 65. 5. E. xceeding NQS theme guidance 331. Combining a waiver with conditions on service approval 70 6. M. aking minor adjustments 336. Application to use indoor space as outdoor space 82 7. Waivers 340. Application to use a verandah as indoor space 83 8. Evidence of non-compliance 340. Guide to the NQF | Contents 3. Toilet and hygiene facilities 397. 9. Significant Improvement Required 340.

6 Nappy change facilities 397. 10. R. eassessment and re-rating at request of the approved provider 344 Laundry and hygiene facilities 398. 11. First tier review 346 Premises, furniture, materials and equipment 398. 12. Second tier review 351 Sufficient furniture, materials and equipment 399. Assessments of family day care residences and approved family day care venues 400. SECTION 4 Responsibilities of the approved provider, nominated OPERATIONAL supervisor and family day care educator 403. REQUIREMENTS Quality Area 4: Staffing arrangements 404. Responsible person 405. 1. Operational requirements 358. Educator qualifications 412. Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice 359. Centre-based and family day care 426.

7 Approved learning frameworks 359. Educator to child ratios 429. Information to be kept and available 360. O. ther staffing arrangements for centre-based and Documentation 361 family day care services 434. Quality Area 2: Children's health and safety 364 Appendix A Prohibition notice declaration for Adequate supervision 364 prospective staff members 443. Harm and hazards 367 Appendix B Compliance history statement for a person to be a person in day-to-day charge (PIDTDC) or a Health, hygiene and safe food practices 369 nominated supervisor 444. Child protection 373 Appendix C Compliance history statement for a Incidents, injury, trauma and illness 373 prospective family day care educator 447. Infectious diseases 375 Quality Area 5: Relationships with children 450.

8 First aid kits 375 Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities 452. Medical conditions policy 376. Quality Area 7: Governance and leadership 454. Administration of medication 379. Policies and procedures 454. Emergencies and communication 381. Information to be displayed 457. Telephone or other communication equipment 382. Reporting information to the regulatory authority 458. Collection of children from premises 383. Management of records 468. Excursions 383. Confidentiality and storage of records 475. Responsibilities of the approved provider, nominated supervisor and family day care educator 386 Other staffing arrangements and related notifications and records 478. Useful contacts 388.

9 Quality Area 3: Physical environment 390 2. Other regulatory frameworks 484. Harm and hazards 390. Outdoor space requirements 390. Swimming pools and other water hazards 391. Fencing 391. Natural environment 392. Shade 393. Indoor space requirements 395. Ventilation and natural light 396. Glass 396. Administrative space 396. 4 Guide to the NQF | Contents SECTION 5 2. Offences 572. 13. Offences relating to enforcement 572. REGULATORY authority Attachment A . POWERS Summary of offences under the National Law 574. Attachment B . 1. Monitoring, compliance and Summary of offences under the National Regulations 576. enforcement 495. 14. Complaints 579. 1. Monitoring 495. Complaints to the regulatory authority 579. What is monitoring?

10 495. Once a complaint has been received 580. 2. Compliance tools 497. Infringement notices 500 3. Good regulatory practice 583. Emergency action notices 502 15. Good regulatory practice 583. Compliance directions 503 Why are regulatory authorities regulating? 583. Compliance notices 506 Regulatory practice diagrams 587. 3. Enforceable undertakings 508 Assessing risk to children 589. Prohibition notices 512 Good decision-making 593. Direction to exclude inappropriate persons from SECTION 6. service premises 517. Prosecution 518. 4. Amendment of approval Conditions 520. REVIEWS. 5. Suspensions and cancellations 524 1. Reviews 601. Notice to suspend education and care by a family 1. Internal merits review 601. day care educator 524 Internally reviewable decisions 601.