ECRU Sector Support

November 2026

New resources to support quality OSHC practice

ACECQA has released a suite of resources to support quality practice in outside school hours care (OSHC) services.

The resources have been developed to support educators, approved providers, service leaders, schools and regulatory authorities to strengthen understanding of quality OSHC practice, build effective partnerships and support continuous improvement.

The package includes:

• updated OSHC assessment and rating guidance in the Guide to the NQF
• five professional learning modules focused on understanding and supporting children's and young people's behaviour
• practical resources to support reflection, planning and responsive practice
• resources to strengthen partnerships between schools and OSHC services.

The updated OSHC assessment and rating guidance includes OSHC-specific information, reflective questions and practice examples to support services and regulatory authorities.

The professional learning modules and practical resources are designed to help educators and service leaders reflect on their practice and strengthen their approaches to behaviour guidance, inclusion and child safety.

Resources to support partnerships between schools and OSHC services are also available, helping build a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities.

Explore the Outside School Hours Care resources on the ACECQA website.

Outside School Hours Care materials

Supporting quality OSHC practice 

Outside school hours care (OSHC) services support children and young people’s wellbeing, learning and development, while building strong connections with families, schools and communities. 

Guiding and supporting children and young people’s behaviour 

This professional learning package supports educators to better understand children and young people’s behaviour, respond to individual needs and strengthen inclusive and responsive practice. 

Complete the eLearning modules individually or work through them as a series. Practical resources can also be used individually or with teams to support discussion, reflection and planning. 

eLearning modules

1. Knowing the child or young person - Explore how relationships, experiences, development and individual circumstances can influence behaviour.  
2. Creating the learning environment - Consider how environments, routines and educator practice can support participation, wellbeing and positive behaviour.  
3. Factors influencing behaviour - Explore the range of factors that can influence how children and young people communicate, participate and respond.  
4. Guiding and supporting behaviour - Explore proactive and responsive strategies that support children and young people in positive and respectful ways. 
5. Individual planning and ongoing support - Explore approaches to planning, documenting, reviewing and strengthening individual support.

Practical resources

1. Understanding Behaviour and Responsive Educator Practice - A practice resource to support understanding of behaviour in context and strengthen responsive educator practice. Supports modules 1 and 3.
2. Proactive Strategies to Guide and Support Behaviour - A practical tool to support educators to identify and use proactive strategies to guide and support behaviour. Supports module 4.
3. Planning, responding and reflecting - A reflective resource to support individual planning, ongoing review and responsive practice. Supports module 5.

Strengthening partnerships between schools and OSHC services

Strong partnerships between schools and OSHC services support better communication, shared understanding and continuity for children, young people and families.

These resources can be used individually or together to support conversations, reflection and planning between schools and OSHC services.

• Strengthening partnerships: a guide for schools and OSHC services - Practical guidance to support respectful and effective collaboration between schools and OSHC services. 
• Benefits of OSHC: Impact Snapshot - A snapshot highlighting the role and benefits of OSHC for children, young people, families, schools and communities.  
• Who’s Who in an OSHC Service - A visual guide to common roles and responsibilities within an OSHC service.

About these resources

These resources were developed in response to recommendation 6.1 of the 2019 NQF Review, which called for consideration of changes to the assessment and rating methodology for services primarily providing education and care to children over preschool age.

Content within the behaviour guidance resources has been adapted from Guiding children’s behaviour in outside school hours care (2010), with permission from It Takes A Village, formerly Community Child Care Association Inc.

Further guidance for OSHC services

The Guide to the National Quality Framework includes guidance that recognises the unique context of OSHC services and school-age care. It includes reflective questions and practice examples to support understanding of how the National Quality Standard and the assessment and rating process applies in school-age care.