National Quality Framework
The Australian National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care constitutes four important elements which govern the quality of the education and care of our youngest people.
1. The National Quality Standard
2. The Early Years Learning Framework.
3. Regulations
4. The National Law
​
The National Quality Standard (NQS)
The NQS sets the benchmark for high quality of education and care across all services in Australia.
​
All services are assessed across the following seven quality areas and an overall rating is given.
​​​​
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)
The Early Years Learning Framework outlines the principle, practices and educational and developmental learning outcomes essential for supporting young children's learning for the first five years of life, and their transition into school. In Victoria, we also adhere to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (Based on the EYLF).
​
More about the EYLF / VEYLDF here.
​
The National Regulations
The Education and Care Services National Regulations (National Regulations) support the National Law by providing detail on a range of operational requirements for an education and care service including:
-
the National Quality Standard (schedule 1)
-
application processes for provider and service approval
-
setting out the rating scale
-
the process for the rating and assessment of services against the National Quality Standard
-
minimum requirements relating to the operation of education and care services organised around each of the seven quality areas
-
staffing arrangements and qualifications
-
fees for a range of transactions.
-
jurisdiction-specific provisions
​
More about the National Regulations.
​
The National Law
The National Quality Framework (NQF) operates under an applied law system, comprising the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations.
​
​
