ECRU Sector Update

Starting Blocks

StartingBlocks.gov.au is still the one place where families can find and compare children's education and care services.

On the new-look website, it is now easier for families to:

• find local services
• view fees, vacancies, quality ratings and inclusions
• estimate out-of-pocket costs using the Child Care Subsidy calculator
• compare services side-by-side
• get information and advice about education, children’s development and parenting.

Check out the new and improved StartingBlocks.gov.au today.

The National Quality Framework (NQF) is a nation-wide Government initiative aimed at improving educational and developmental outcomes for children. In 2012, a quality rating system was introduced to assist parents, families, and carers to make informed choices about potential Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services for their child/children.

During the assessment and rating process, regulatory authorities monitor and evaluate ECEC services against seven key criteria. Services receive ratings for each of the seven quality areas, in addition to an overall quality rating.

The five levels of the current quality rating system are as follows;

• Significant improvement required
• Working towards National Quality Standard
• Meeting National Quality Standards
• Exceeding National Quality Standard
• Excellent

Past research demonstrated low awareness, understanding and usage of the quality rating system by parents and families Australia-wide.

The Government is seeking to enhance children’s access to quality ECEC by:

• Improving parents and families’ understanding of service quality
• Improving parents and families’ understanding of the quality ratings system
• Supporting parents and families in making informed decisions when choosing a service (where choice is available) no matter their literacy levels or cultural heritage Research was therefore commissioned to better understand perceptions of quality and identify the most appropriate descriptive terminology for each label within the quality rating system.

The overarching objective of this research was to identify preferred terminology of the ECEC quality rating system amongst a broad range of parent and family stakeholders that take into consideration cultural and literacy differences.

More specifically, this study:

• Identified ECEC services and parent/families perceptions of quality, and their interactions with the NQS quality rating system
• Provided an understanding on the preferred terminology for label descriptors to be used in the NQS quality rating system.

The full report has been published on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website.

Taking and storing images of children in early childhood and education care

Building upon and strengthening a safe culture for children

ACECQA, in partnership with all governments, has released a set of recommended child safe practices for the use of electronic devices when taking, sharing and storing photos and/or videos of children in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. The recommended practices are outlined in a National Model Code.

The National Model Code is voluntary and transitional in nature, while regulatory reform around these issues is explored by governments.

The National Model Code recommends that services adopt the following practices:

• only service-issued devices should be used to take photos and/or videos of children
• personal electronic devices that can take and/or record images are not to be carried when providing ECEC, unless for authorised essential purposes such as emergencies, health and family needs
• strict controls should be in place for storing and retaining children's images and recordings.

The Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework confirmed that the National Quality Framework (NQF) is a robust regulatory scheme, with a strong focus on continuous quality improvement to ensure children are safe, healthy and thriving. However, the Review found it could be further enhanced in a number of child safety areas, including in relation to the taking, sharing and storing photos and/or videos of children.

Early childhood educators are leaders in creating child safe environments. The National Model Code is intended to support and enhance relevant child safety activities and strategies in place across the ECEC sector. Many approved providers of ECEC services already limit or restrict the use of electronic devices.

Approved providers and their services are encouraged to consider and voluntarily adopt the recommended practices within the National Model Code. Adopting the National Model Code will support a child safe culture and assist approved providers and services towards any future regulatory requirements in this area.

The National Model Code has been designed for centre-based services approved under the NQF, whose primary purpose is to educate and care for children 0-5 years old (long day care and pre-school / kindergarten services). However, providers of other types of ECEC services and approved providers of outside school hours care services may choose to consider adopting similar practices within their own contexts. 

Guidelines that accompany the National Model Code have been developed to assist approved providers with this process.

A range of communications and engagement materials have also been prepared to assist approved providers to implement the National Model Code – in partnership with educators and other service staff, families and carers.