All early childhood services regulated under the National Quality Framework (NQF) are assessed and rated against the National Quality Standard (NQS). Services are given a rating for each of the 7 quality areas and an overall rating based on these results.
This includes the following services:
- Long day care services
- Standalone kindergartens
- Family day care (FDC) services
- Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and vacation care.
The assessment and rating process does not apply to occasional care and limited hours services regulated under the Victorian Children’s Services Act.
The assessment and rating process is:
- conducted by authorised officers from the state's Regulatory Authority, the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA)
- a combined approach of quality assurance and regulatory compliance
- an opportunity to demonstrate the service's overall quality, strengths and areas of improvement.
Final quality ratings for all services are available online at the national registers.
The assessment and rating process
The Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has information about the assessment and rating process, including:
- the steps in the process and the timeline
- the quality ratings
- the Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) and the Self-Assessment Tool
- the draft report
- how to give feedback on the draft report
- the review of final ratings
- re-assessment and rating.
How to provide feedback on the draft report
The service has 10 working days to submit feedback and provide any supporting evidence.
Feedback can only relate to factual inaccuracies in the draft report. It must be submitted through the NQA ITS system.
For further advice, refer to ACECQA’s Assessment and Rating Report information sheet.
How to apply for a review of final ratings
Approved providers can apply for a review of the final rating received by their service. This can be one of the following:
- First tier review: This should be submitted to the Regulatory Authority within 14 calendar days of receiving the final assessment and rating report.
- Second tier review: This has a prescribed fee and must be submitted to ACECQA within 14 calendar days of receiving the notice of outcome of the first tier review.
For more information, refer to Review of ratings.
How to apply for re-assessment and re-rating
Services can also apply to the Regulatory Authority for a re-assessment and re-rating. This application can only be made once every 2 years. A fee applies.
For more information, refer to Reassessment and re-rating.
Further information
Supporting materials are available on the ACECQA website:
- Starting Blocks – information developed for families
- Guide to the NQF
- Family day care materials – includes information about assessments of FDC residences and venues
- Information sheets to assist providers and educators
- Videos and podcasts that explain the NQF
- Assessment and Rating materials – including posters, the NQS assessment and rating instrument, QIP template
- Educational games for educators to build knowledge of the NQF.
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