Early Childhood Education

Australia National Quality Framework and the National Quality Standard

The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care services across Australia. The NQF introduced a new quality standard in 2012 to improve education and care across long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten, and outside school hours care services.

The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high national benchmark for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care services in Australia.

What do we do

Research shows quality education and care early in life leads to better health, education and employment outcomes later in life. The early years are critical for establishing self-esteem, resilience, healthy growth and capacity to learn. Quality education and care shapes every child’s future and lays the foundation for development and learning.

To support the Early Childhood Education sector to improve outcomes for children in China, AVEA is dedicated to work with Chinese governments to provide guidance, resources and services to all related educational institutes and early learning centres. To achieve that, a modified quality standards has been developed to comply with the local policies of the services. Assessment and ratings are undertaken by nominated officers from Australia through service’s self-rating, service visit, staff interview, documentary examination etc. 

The Quality Standard contains 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children:

• Educational program and practice
• Children’s health and safety
• Physical environment
• Staff arranagement
• Relationship with children
• Collaborative partnership with families and communities
• Governance and leadership

As a follow up of the accreditation, staff training, curriculum design, ongoing training, centre renovation and other services can be provided in need.