Upload
owen-preston
View
216
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Information on the National Quality Framework
February 2012
National Quality Framework
Session 1. Overview of the National Quality Framework
Session 2. National Law and National Regulations
Session 3. Assessment and Rating ProcessSession 4. Operational Requirements including
National Quality StandardSession 5. Sector Support and Resources
Welcome
Overview of the National
Quality Framework
Session 1
www.acecqa.gov.au
To ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of
children attending education and care services
To improve the educational and developmental
outcomes for children attending education and
care services
Objectives of the National Quality Framework
The rights and best interests of the child are paramount
Children are successful, competent and capable learners
Equity, inclusion and diversity underpin the Framework
Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are
valued
The role of parents and families is respected and supported
Best practice is expected in the provision of education and
care services
Guiding principles of the National Quality Framework
The National Quality Framework includes:
o a new national legislative framework
o the National Quality Standard
o an assessment and rating system
o a Regulatory Authority in each State and Territory
o the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality
Authority (ACECQA).
National Quality Framework
The Board appointments are as follows:
o Chief Executive Officer - Karen Curtis
o Chairperson - Rachel Hunter
o Deputy Chairperson - Prof. Collette Tayler
Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority
Board members: Tracey Bradley Mark Brown
Prof. Allison Elliott Gayle Ginnane Tonia Godhard AM
Prof .Pauline Harris Susan Lines Michael Manthorpe
June McLoughlin Amanda Morphett Anne Reddell
www.acecqa.gov.au
• Each State and Territory has appointed a Regulatory
Authority.
• The Regulatory Authority:o provides advice and guidance about the National Quality Framework to
services and the community
o administers the National Quality Framework
o assesses approved education and care services against the National
Quality Standard and the Regulations and determines the ratings of those
services
o monitors and enforces compliance
o receives and investigates notifications of serious incidents and complaints.
Regulatory Authorities
The Regulatory Authority in Victoria is the
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development
The newly formed Quality Assessment and Regulation
Division will:
o encompass all previous regional children’s services teams
o coordinate all service approval functions
o monitor the assessment and ratings processes against the
NQF
o implement policy and support Authorised Officers.
The Regulatory Authority
Regulatory tools include:
o monitoring compliance
o undertaking assessment and rating visits
o undertaking a schedule of visits, announced,
unannounced, random, and targeted campaigns
o investigating notifications
o compliance action.
Monitoring and enforcement
National Law and National Regulations
Session 2
National Law
Education and Care Services National Law Act
2010
National Regulations
Education and Care Services National
Regulations 2011
National Quality Standard
National legislative framework
Any service providing or intending toprovide education and care on a regularbasis to children under the age of 13 years
which INCLUDES:
o preschools (kindergartens)
o long day care
o outside school hours care
o family day care services.
Services covered by the National Law
Services excluded by the National Law
A school providing full-time education to children, including children attending in the year before grade 1 but not including a preschool program delivered in a school or a preschool that is registered at a school
Preschool programs delivered in a school if(i) the program is delivered in a class or classes where a full-time
education program is also being delivered; and
(ii) the program is being delivered to fewer than 6 children in the school
Personal arrangements A service principally conducted to provide instruction is a
particular activity e.g. dance classes, homework clubs A service providing education and care to patients in a
hospital or patients of a medical or therapeutic care service Care provided under a child protection law
In Victoria this means:
o limited hours or short term licence services
o occasional care services providing ad hoc care
o early childhood intervention services
o mobile services
o some school holiday care programs
o budget-based funded services without CCB.
These services continue to operate under the Victorian
children’s services legislation.
Services excluded by the National Regulations
Transition - National Quality Framework
• Approved providerLicensee
• Person with management or controlRepresentative
• Nominated supervisorPrimary nominee
• Certified supervisorApproved nominee
• Approved serviceLicensed service
The new approval system has replaced the current
licensing system for services operating under the
National Law
There are three inter-related approval processes:
1. Provider approval
2. Service approval
3. Supervisor Certificate.
The national approval system
Provider approval is a national ongoing approval to
operate services
Allows a provider to apply for one or more service
approvals in any jurisdiction
An individual applicant must meet fit and proper
requirements
If not an individual, each person in management or
control must meet fit and proper requirements
Provider approval
Responsible personscentre-based services
Responsible person
At a centre-based service a responsible person must be physically present at all times
Needs to be either a :
Approved provider or person in
management and control
• Assessed and granted to a legal entity or person
with management or control that will
operate the education and care service.
Nominated supervisor
• All services must have a nominated supervisor as
part of the service approval
• A nominated supervisor must have a supervisor
certificate.
Certified supervisor
• Makes a person eligible to be put
in day-to-day charge of a service in the absence of
the approved provider or nominated supervisor.
Family day care services must ensure that:
o an approved provider or person with management or
control; or
o a nominated supervisor; or
o a certified supervisor
is available to educators including being contactable by
phone.
Family day carestaffing requirements
There are two types of service approvals:
o centre-based services includes: long day care,
preschool or kindergarten and outside school hours
care services
o family day care services.
An annual fee applies
Existing licenses must be displayed whilst awaiting
service approval.
Service approval
Provisions have been made under the National Law
for associated services
The National Law contains provisions for an
associated service to operate under one Service
Approval
Associated services will continue to comply with the
Victorian children’s services legislation in relation to
the standards that apply
Associated Services
A person to be put in day-to-day charge of the service must meet the following:o be 18 years or overo satisfy the Regulatory Authority that they are a fit and
proper person to be the supervisor of a service including mandatory criminal history information (Working with Children Check)
o the applicant must have – ― adequate knowledge and understanding of the provision of
education and care to children― the ability to effectively supervise and manage an education and
care service― the applicant must have either – ― 3 years experience or an approved diploma or early childhood
teaching qualification (not a requirement for OSHC services).
Supervisor Certificates
The Regulatory Authority may grant a supervisor
certificate to a prescribed class of person, such as:
o a principal of a school on a school site
o a person in charge of a campus of a school that
provides an education and care service at that campus.
Supervisor Certificates
Requires a person to hold a supervisor certificate
All services must have a nominated supervisor
The nominated supervisor is responsible with the
approved provider for compliance with the National
Law and National Regulations
Nominated Supervisor
Assessment and Rating Process
Session 3
Promotes continuous quality improvement Measures the aspects of quality that contribute to
better outcomes for children Places an educational lens on assessment of services
and considers pedagogy Is technically valid, robust and a consistent
assessment and rating process across Australia Provides meaningful, transparent and reliable
information to parents and families about the quality of early childhood education and care services
Ratings publicly available
Assessment and rating
National Quality Standard
The new National Quality Standard is divided into 7 quality areas that contribute to the quality of early childhood education and care
1. Educational program and practice
2. Children’s health and safety
3. Physical environment
4. Staffing arrangements
5. Relationships with children
6. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
7. Leadership and service management
Rating names
Provisional ratingUntil a service is first assessed under the National Law it will have a rating of Provisional - Not yet assessed under the National Quality Framework
Rating levelsKey changes from exposure draft
Exposure draft National Regulations
Excellent Excellent rating
High Quality Exceeding National Quality Standard
National Quality Standard Meeting National Quality Standard
Foundation Working Towards National Quality Standard
Unsatisfactory Significant Improvement Required
Significant Improvement Required – service is not meeting the National Quality Standard and this constitutes a risk to the health safety and wellbeing of a child and the regulator is working with the service
Working Towards National Quality Standard – generally every year for a full assessment
National Quality Standard – generally every two years for a full assessment
Exceeds National Quality Standard – generally every three years for a full assessment
Excellent – generally every three years for a full assessment
Earned autonomy system
Services are required to complete a self assessment against the National Quality Standard. This includes:o gathering information from management;
educators; families and others.
In order to develop a Quality Improvement Plan services are required to:o reflect on and evaluate practice o identify strengths and areas for
improvemento develop strategies and timelines to achieve
goals o outline the statement of philosophy of the
service.
Quality Improvement Plans
From 30 April 2012 all existing services must have
completed a self-assessment against the National
Quality Standard and have a Quality Improvement Plan
available at the service.
o New services must submit a Quality Improvement Plan to
the Regulatory Authority within 3 months of the service
approval being granted.
o Assessment and rating visits will commence in mid June
2012.
Assessment and rating process in 2012
Assessment and rating visits will be announced
Proposed length of visit (1-5 days)
Assessors will:
o consider compliance history
o consider the Quality Improvement Plan
o observe the programs provided on the day
o have discussion with educators and providers
o sight documentation.
Assessment and rating process
Steps Process1. Notice to
submit QIPAdvice to providers with request to submit a Quality Improvement Plan within 6 weeks.
2. Notice of visit
Providers will receive advice that QIP has been received and notifying the date for the site visit.
3. Site visit Site visit occurs around week 12.
4. Draft assessment report
Approved provider will be sent a draft of the assessment report by week 15. The provider will have an opportunity to provide comment, and submit evidence of compliance within 10 working days.
5. Feedback considered
Feedback on report considered by Regulatory Authority (week 18).
6. Final rating Report is finalised and final rating determined. Report is sent to approved provider (week 20).
Assessment and rating process
Operational Requirementsincluding
National Quality Standard
Session 4
1. Educational program and practice
2. Children’s health and safety
3. Physical environment
4. Staffing arrangements
5. Relationships with children
6. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
7. Leadership and service management
Operational Requirements and the National Quality Standard
Approved services must provide an educational program that is:o delivered based on an approved learning framework o based on the developmental needs, interests and
experiences of each childo takes into account the individual differences of each
child. Requirements for:
o documenting child assessments or evaluationso ensure information about the educational program is
availableo providing information about the educational program to
parents on request.
Educational program and practice Quality Area 1
Educational program and
practice
Approved National Frameworks
The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia
for educators working with children aged birth to 5
5 learning outcomes pedagogy, principles and practice
My Time, Our Place for educators working in school
aged care 5 learning outcomes Belonging, Being & Becoming
reinforced
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
For all professionals working with children from birth to 8 years
Quality Area 1 Educational
program and practice
The National Law contains important provisions
relating to children’s health and safety, including:
o adequate supervision of children
o protection of children from harm and hazards
o offence to use inappropriate discipline.
Children’s health and safety
Quality Area 1 Educational
program and practice
Ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children including:o incidents, injury, trauma and illnesso medical conditions policy and administration of medicationo emergencies and communicationo collection of children from premises and excursionso Child Protection awareness.
For children over preschool age:o recognition of self-administration of medicine by children
over preschool ageo recognition that children may leave premises with written
authorisation.
Children’s health and safety
Quality Area 2 Children’s health
and safety
Ensure the safety, health, and wellbeing of children
on excursions:
o Undertake a risk assessment to identify and assess any
risks including hazards, transport, supervision and activity
o Parental supervision
Amended regulation:
o Recognises that movement within a service premises is no
longer defined as an excursion
Excursions
Quality Area 2 Children’s health
and safety
Many requirements focus on outcomes. For example:o equipment to be safe, clean and good repairo ensure fencing is of a height and design that children
preschool age and under cannot go through, over or under
o services which don’t have laundry facilities may meet the requirement by ensuring the services has other arrangements in place for dealing with soiled items
o removal of prohibition on swimming pools (existing bans retained in Tasmania and New South Wales)
o different requirements for outdoor space for older children.
Physical environment
Quality Area 3Physical
environment
An existing family day care residence or venue does
not need to meet the fencing requirements of
regulation 104 until the venue or residence is
renovated
For the purpose of a rating assessment a family day
care service is taken to comply with that regulation
until 31 December 2015
Physical environment – Family Day Care
Quality Area 3Physical
environment
Educational leadero A suitably qualified and experienced educator, co-ordinator
or other individual is designated in writing as an educational leader at the service to lead the development and implementation of educational programs in the service
Working directly with childreno For the purpose of calculating ratios educators are
physically present with the children and directly engaged in providing education and care to children
For teachers in attendance at a centre-based serviceo Is present at the service and may include working directly
with children, planning, mentoring, facilitating research, performing the role of educational leader
Staffing arrangementsnew definitions
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Family day care educators and educator assistants on engagement or registration must hold a valid:o Working with Children Checko Criminal History Record Check
Educators in centre-based services on engagement must hold a:o Working with Children Check
Limited exceptionso Teachers with VIT registration are not required to have
a working with children checko Under 18 years
Fitness and propriety prior to engagement
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Educator to child ratio: Family day care
Family day care service7 children at a family day care residence or venue at any one time.
No more than 4 children can be preschool age or under (including the educator’s own children if they are under 13 years of age, and there is no other adult present and caring for these children).
Children visiting a residence or venue are excluded from the maximum number of children.
In exceptional circumstances the ratios can be exceeded for example all children are siblings; if a child needs protection under child protection law or no alternative care available in a remote or rural area.
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Children aged less than 36 months o a ratio of 1 educator to 4 childreno at least 1 of every 3 educators required to meet relevant ratios must
have at least an approved diploma level education and care qualification.
Children preschool age or under who are aged 36 months or over o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 1 of every 2 required educators required to meet relevant
ratios must have at least an approved diploma level qualification. Children over preschool age
o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 50 per cent of educators required to meet the relevant ratio
must have or be enrolled in and studying for at least an approved diploma level qualification
Staffing arrangements: centre-based services from 1 January 2012
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Children aged less than 36 months o a ratio of 1 educator to 4 childreno at least 50 per cent of educators required to meet relevant ratios must
have or be actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.
Children preschool age or under who are aged 36 months or over o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 children o at least 50 per cent of educators required to meet relevant ratios must
have or be actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.
Children over preschool age o A ratio of 1 educator to 15 childreno at least 50 percent of educators required to meet relevant ratios must
have or be enrolled and studying for at least an approved diploma level qualification.
Staffing arrangements : centre-based services from 1 January 2014
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Children aged less than 36 monthso a ratio of 1 educator to 4 childreno at least 50 percent of educators required to meet relevant ratios have
or are actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.
Children preschool age or under who are aged 36 monthso A ratio of 1 educator to 11 childreno At least 50 percent of educators required to meet relevant ratios have
or are actively working towards at least an approved diploma level qualification.
Children over preschool age o a ratio of 1 educator to 15 childreno at least 50 percent of educators are required to have or be enrolled
and studying for at least an approved diploma level qualification.
Staffing arrangements : centre-based services from 1 January 2016
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Early childhood teacher requirements
Date required
Children attending/approved places
Teacher in attendance
1 January 2014
Less than 25 children or approved places < 25
Access for at least 20% of the time the service operates
25 to 59 children For at least 6 hours per day or 60% of the operating hours of the service
Approved places 25 to 59 Engages a full-time teacher
60 to 80 children 6 hours a day or 60% of the operating hoursSecond teacher for 3 hours a day or 30% of the operating hours
1 January 2016
Approved places 60 to 80 Engages a full time teacher and a second half full time teacher
More than 80 children Two teachers 6 hours per day of 60% of the operating hours
Approved places > 80 Engages two full time teachers
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
In regard to early childhood teacher requirements a transitional provision allows a person to be taken to be an early childhood teacher in the period from 1 January 2014 to 1 January 2016 if they are actively working towards an early childhood teaching qualification if they have completed 50 per cent of the course or hold a diploma level education and care qualification.
Please note that Kindergarten Funding and Policy Guidelines in Victoria would still require a kindergarten program to be delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.
Qualified staff: transitional and savings provisions
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Early childhood teacherso recognised under former law or for the purposes of
preschool fundingo hold a qualification on list published by ACECQAo immediately before 1 January 2012 were recognised,
registered, or accredited.
Diploma and Certificate III level qualificationso recognised under a former lawo held a qualification on list published by ACECQA.
Qualified staff: savings provisions
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
From 1 January 2014 all centre-based and family day care educators must have, or be actively working towards at least an approved certificate III level education and care qualification.
Educators at a centre-based service who have been continuously employed as an educator for 15 years immediately before 1 January 2012 are not required to hold (or be actively working towards) a certificate III level qualification until 31 December 2015.
The requirements do not apply to educators who have completed by 31 December 2011 an approved professional development course.
Certificate III level qualifications
Quality Area 4Staffing
arrangements
Services must now ensure at least one educator is in attendance and immediately available in an emergency. Services must ensure that they have at least:o one holder of a current approved first aid qualificationo one educator that has undertaken approved
anaphylaxis management trainingo one educator that has undertaken approved
emergency asthma management training (this is not a requirement until 2013).
Family day care educators and educator assistants must adhere to all three requirements.
First aid qualifications
Quality Area 4 Staffing
arrangements
An approved provider must take reasonable steps to ensure education and care is provided in a way that:o encourages children to express themselves and their
opinions o gives children the opportunity to become self reliant and
develop self-esteem o maintains at all times the dignity and rights of each child o gives positive guidance and encourages acceptable
behaviouro has regard to the family and cultural values, age, physical
and intellectual development and abilities of each child being educated and cared for by the service.
Relationships with children
Quality Area 5 Relationships with children
Parents are permitted to enter the service premises at any time their child is being educated and cared for by the service, as long as there is no risk to the health and safety of children or staff at the service, no conflict with the duty of the provider, supervisor or educator under the Law, and no court order prohibiting contact with the child
Many other regulations relate to collaboration with families
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
Quality Area 6 Collaborative
partnerships with families and communities
The approved provider must ensure the service has in place policies and procedures in relation to the following:
Leadership and service management - policies
Quality Area 7 Leadership and
service management
health and safety dealing with medical conditions
interactions with children
delivery and collection of children
emergency and evacuation
governance and management of the service
excursions incident, injury trauma and illness
enrolment and orientation
refusal of authorisations for a child to leave the service
providing a child safe environment
payment of fees
dealing with infectious disease
staffing dealing with complaints
Family Day Care must have additional prescribed policies and procedures in place, they include:o the assessment and approval and reassessment of
approved family day care residences and venueo engagement or registration of family day care educatorso monitoring, support and supervision of family day care
educatorso assessment of educators, assistants and persons residing
on the residenceo information, assistance and training to family day care
educator engagement or registration of assistants.o visitors
Leadership and service management – Family Day Care
Quality Area 7 Leadership and
service management
Notification to the Regulatory Authorityo The Regulatory Authority must be notified within the
prescribed time of any changes in relation to the approved providers, nominated supervisors and premises.
Serious incidents and complaintso The Regulatory Authority must be notified within 24
hours of a serious incident or complaint.
Leadership and service management
Quality Area 7 Leadership and
service management
Recordso Including assessments of children’s learning, evidence of
public liability insurance, medication, child attendance, child enrolment, incidents, record of service’s compliance history, staff records, record of educators working directly with children, volunteers.
Displayo A range of matters required to be displayed including
approvals, rating, hours of operation, educational leader, responsible person, nominated supervisor, complaints information, details of any waivers.
Leadership and service management
Quality Area 7 Leadership and
service management
Sector support and
resources
Session 5
Information about the National Quality Framework is available on the ACECQA website at www.acecqa.gov.auo National Law and approved National Regulationso Fact sheets o Guide to the National Law and Regulations (available
shortly)o Guide to the National Quality Standard o Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plano Application forms and information for providers, services
and certified supervisorso Qualification, lists and registers
National sector support and resources
Facts sheets on the National Quality Framework can be found at www.education.vic.gov.au/licensedchildservices
Sector support and resources for Victorian Services
Questions and Answers
Session 6