Goodstart stories
Goodstarters make their mark at the annual ECA National Conference
More than 60 Goodstarters from across the country joined in Brisbane for the ECA National conference...
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.
These standards include seven Quality Areas against which centres are assessed
Services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the NQS, and given a rating for each of the 7 quality areas and an overall rating based on their results. For more information please visit The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority.
The assessment process provides valuable external feedback to early childhood services, including areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
Each Goodstart centre will display their rating in a common area, if not then please speak with your Centre Director who will be able to advise you.
Alternatively, ratings for the entire sector (not just Goodstart) are available at https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/
The Early Years Learning Framework describes the principles, practice and outcomes essential to support and enhance young children's learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school.
An important part of the standards is the requirement for services to develop ongoing Quality Improvement Plans (QIP).
The aim of a QIP is to help providers self-assess their performance in delivering quality education and care and to plan future improvements. The QIP also helps the regulatory authorities with their assessment of the service. A QIP helps providers to document the strengths of their services and to recognise areas for improvement.
All Goodstart centres have comprehensive QIPS in place to support them to meet the requirements of the National Quality Standards. These QIPs identify specific focus areas for each centre which reflects the unique circumstances of the service and the community. Educators, children and families are involved in the initial self-assessment that is done to determine what should form a part of its QIP.
The Quality Improvement Plan must:
Each centre should develop their QIP in consultation with families and children. Children are consulted for development of curriculum, activities and playground changes and parents are consulted in relation to events at the centre, feedback towards curriculum, playground/environment changes.
Area Managers, Early Learning Consultants, Educators and local schools, communities and councils also support each centre to develop their QIP.
In centres that are meeting the requirements of the NQS their QIP may focus on improving above and beyond the standards to deliver the highest possible quality of early learning and care.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Quality Improvement Plan in place for your centre contact your local Centre Director who will be more than happy to assist.
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Goodstart stories
Goodstart stories
More than 60 Goodstarters from across the country joined in Brisbane for the ECA National conference...
Government and sector
Government and sector
Jayneen was interviewed by Marie Stuart, Safeguarding Children Coordinator & Social Inclusion Coordi...