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National Quality Framework information session

National Quality Framework information session. 9 NOVEMBER 2011. Presentation overview. Where are we up to? National Regulations . 1 . Where are we up to?. Reform Agenda – National Quality Framework. The National Quality Agenda was endorsed by COAG in December 2009

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National Quality Framework information session

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  1. National Quality Framework information session 9 NOVEMBER 2011

  2. Presentation overview • Where are we up to? • National Regulations

  3. 1. Where are we up to? Reform Agenda – National Quality Framework • The National Quality Agenda was endorsed by COAG in December 2009 • Through this Agreement, the Commonwealth and the States and Territories will work together to implement the National Quality Framework (NQF) for early childhood education and care commencing from 1 January 2012 • Implementation is being led nationally by the Ministerial Council Working Groups and by DET for Queensland

  4. 1. Where are we up to? • NQF begins for in-scope services on 1 January 2012 • Consulted on draft National Regulations in March/April 2011 • National Law passed in Victoria and New South Wales • Bill to apply the Education and Care Services National LawAct was introduced into Queensland Parliament on 6 September 2011 • National Regulations approved by Australian Ministerson 14 October 2011

  5. 1. Where are we up to? • Service assessment and rating visits will begin mid 2012 • New services - Approved Providers must develop their Quality Improvement Plan within three months of the service approval • Existing services - will be given at least four months to develop their Quality Improvement Plan from 1 January 2012 to 30 April 2012

  6. 1. Where are we up to? • 13 member ACECQA board announced which includes state and territory representatives from across Australia • My Time, Our Place: Framework for School Age Carein Australiahas beenreleased • Building Code of Australia considering feedback – New code expected May 2012 • Procedures, documentation, transition arrangements and IT systems are being developed to ensure an effective introduction of the new system • QLD services will receive an information pack in December 2011 detailing transitional information including forms which need to be completed and sent back to DET • Revision of services out of scope in progress – Child Care Act 2002 continues to apply for licensed services out-of-scope of the National Law

  7. 1. Where are we up to? • New names of quality ratings • Excellent (highest level) • Exceeding National Quality Standard • Meeting National Quality Standard • Working towards National Quality Standard • Significant Improvement Required (lowest level) • Updated NQS (in Regulations) • Minor amendments to the NQS include: • - Revised elements in Quality Area 1 • - Sustainable practices and environmental responsibility now in Standard 3.3, moved from Quality Area 6 • - Refinements to Quality Area 7

  8. 1. Where are we up to? • Key messages • NQF is focused on quality outcomes for children • A phased implementation to support transition • Regulatory standards support the implementation of the NQS • The NQF is a move to promoting continuous quality improvement • DET will support services to implement the new standard, processes and resources

  9. 1. Where are we up to? Legislation and Regulations IN-SCOPE OUT-OF-SCOPE National Law Child Care Act 2002 National Regulations Child Care Regulations QLD Regulations (CGBs)

  10. 2. National Regulations

  11. – CHAPTER 1 –Preliminary: Definitions

  12. Preliminary Definitions • In-scope services of the National Law • Any service providing or intending to provide education and care on a regular basis to children under 13 years of age (other than those specifically excluded) • Out-of-scope services of the National Law • A range of services are specifically excluded from the National Quality Framework, either through the National Law or through Regulation

  13. A disability or early childhood intervention service In a child’s home Hotel or resort care Conference, sport facility or shopping centre care Provided or shared by parents Mobile services Transition to school programs College or secondary school student’s children Vacation care offered for not more than four weeks per year Stand alone care services Ad hoc or casual Commonwealth Budget Based Funding Program services Services funded by the Queensland Government to provide limited hours care Excluded by the National Regulations

  14. – CHAPTER 2 –Approvals and Certificates

  15. Provider Approvals Service Approvals Nominated Supervisor (Supervisor Certificate) Other educators with a Supervisor Certificate Approvals and certificates A quick recap • A new robust but streamlined approval system with three interrelated approvals: • Under the new system provider and supervisor approvals will be ongoing and nationally recognised

  16. Approvals and certificates Responsible persons • Responsible person • A ‘responsible person’ is defined in the National Law as: • The Approved Provider—if the Approved Provider is an individual—in any other case, a person with management or control of the service; or • The Nominated Supervisor of the service; or • A Certified Supervisor who has been placed in day-to-day charge of the service

  17. Approvals and certificatesNominated Supervisor • Is a Certified Supervisor who consents to be Nominated Supervisor • Services may employ several staff who are Certified Supervisors • Only one Nominated Supervisor required for each service • Responsible for day to day operation of the service, and its compliance with the legislation, for instance: • - Adequate supervision of the children • - Protecting them from harm and hazards • - Meeting relevant educator-to-child ratios

  18. Approvals and certificates Certified Supervisor • New applicants for Supervisor Certificates • Certificate deems individual as capable of being in day to day charge of a service • Certificate is nationally portable from service to service • Must holdBlue Card (in QLD) or be a registered teacher • Minimum age: 18 years • Adequate knowledge and ability to effectively supervise a service • Have at least one of the following: • - at least 3 years experience working as an educator OR • - an approved Diploma level qualification in education and care OR • - an approved early childhood teacher qualification • Without these, may apply only for school-age settings

  19. Approvals and certificates Declared approvals • Declared Provider Approvals for 1 January 2012 • From 1 January 2012, existing licensed operators will be taken to be Approved Providers • Provider Approvals will be issued by DET by 30 June 2012 • Transition information packs will be mailed to services in December 2011 • Declared Service Approvals for 1 January 2012 • From 1 January 2012, existing in-scope services will be taken to be Approved Services • Service Approvals will be issued by DET by 30 June 2012

  20. Approvals and certificates Declared supervisors • Declared supervisors for 1 January 2012 • From 1 January 2012, all qualified (or working towards) Directors, Coordinators and Group Leaders who are staff members of a licensed service or nominees, will be declared as Certified Supervisors and Nominated Supervisors • DET will issue certificates by 30 June 2012 • Nominated Supervisors must be confirmed in writing • Providers will be asked to nominate their Nominated Supervisor • Persons declared as Nominated Supervisors can advise DET if they do not consent to be the Nominated Supervisor for the service. The advice to DET will cancel their status as a Nominated Supervisor, but they will continue to be a Certified Supervisor

  21. Approvals and certificates Application for Provider Approval • New Provider Approval applicants • Apply in the state/territory of residence or principal office • Ongoing and recognised/accepted in all states/territories • Fitness and propriety can be reassessed at any time • Bankruptcy/insolvency public register will be checked • Will be published on the Approved Provider register by ACECQA • In QLD, must hold a Blue Card/positive exemption notice or be a registered teacher • Application fee: $200 (new services only)

  22. Approvals and certificates Application for Service Approval • New applications for Service Approval • Service Approval is about the premises • Applications by Approved Providers • Will be processed by DET regional offices • Application fee varies according to size ($400-800) • Annual fee varies according to size ($185-365)

  23. Approvals and certificates Application for Service Approval • What is different for QLD centre-based services? • Nominated Supervisor • No maximum capacity - approved number of places determined by available space • Associated children’s service – out-of-scope service located at the same premises (e.g. Limited Hours Care)

  24. Approvals and certificates Application for Service Approval • What is different for Queensland? • Family day care schemes can operate across the country • Centre-based service approval applications must include: • - Soil assessment or equivalent • - Lease agreement or equivalent

  25. WaiversService Waivers - Temporary Waivers

  26. Approvals and certificatesWaivers • Service waiver – provides a waiver on an ongoing basis • Temporary waiver – provides a waiver for a fixed period (up to 12 months) • Both waivers apply to physical environmentand staffing requirementsonly

  27. Approvals and certificatesWaivers • Service waiver • Exemption from a physical environment and staffing requirement • No impact on ratings • Can apply with Service Approval application • Service Waivers will be specified on the Service Approval • Example of service waiver • If unable to fence in accordance with National Regulations and Building • Code of Australia, but can demonstrate ability to maintain children’s • safety through alternative means

  28. Approvals and certificatesWaivers • Temporary waiver • Apply for up to 12 months • Can apply with Service Approval application • Temporary waivers will be specified on the Service Approval • Example of temporary waivers • In the event of flooding, a service may apply for a Temporary Waiver for • Regulation 112 in relation to requirements to have natural features, until • the grounds have been cleaned/replanted.

  29. – CHAPTER 3 –Assessments & ratings

  30. Assessment and ratings Quality Improvement Plan • Quality Improvement Plan • Includes a self assessment • Identifies areas for improvement • Contains a statement of philosophy of the service • Is updated at least annually • Timing • Existing services: must be developed by 30 April 2012 • New services: must submit within three months of being granted a Service Approval

  31. Assessment and ratings Quality Improvement Plan • Guide to developing a Quality Improvement Plan(www.acecqa.gov.au) • Background information • Tips for undertaking a self assessment • Examples of plans • Quality Improvement Plan template • Service details • Strengths and areas for improvement: 7 Quality Areas and related Regulations • The Plan: goals, priorities, steps, measures of success, tracking

  32. Assessment and ratings A quick recap • Assessed against the 7 Quality Areas of the NQS • Educational program and practice • Children’s health and safety • Physical environment • Staffing arrangements, including educator-to-child ratios and qualifications • Relationships with children • Collaborative partnerships with families and communities • Leadership and service management

  33. Assessment and ratings A quick recap Until first assessment and rating, must display: • A prescribed provisional rating (s65) • “Provisional – Not Yet Assessed under the National Quality Framework” • National Childcare Accreditation Council rating

  34. – CHAPTER 4 –Operational requirements

  35. Operational requirements 1. Educational program and practice • Approved learning frameworks • Belonging, Being and Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework (birth - 5 yrs) • My Time, Our Place – Framework for School Age Care(6 - 12 yrs)

  36. Operational requirements2. Children’s health & safety • Health, safety and wellbeing of children (s77 – 84) • Adequate health and hygiene practices • Safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food • Meet children’s sleep and rest needs • Environment is free from use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol • Incident, injury, trauma and illness (s85 – 89) • Parent of child must be notified as soon as practicable– no more than 24 hrs • Record of incident

  37. Operational requirements2. Children’s health & safety • First Aid kits (s89) • Appropriate number of First Aid kits that are suitably equipped, easy to find and accessible • Medical conditions policy and medication • procedures (s90) • Similar to current Child Care Act 2002 • Services must develop a risk-minimisation plan

  38. Operational requirements2. Children’s health & safety • Administration of medication (s93-95) • Must ensure administration is authorised by parents and in accordance with prescription unless in an anaphylaxis or asthma emergency • If an emergency occurs, parents and emergency services to be notified as soon as practical

  39. Operational requirements 2. Children’s health & safety • Excursions (s100 – 102) • Must do a risk assessment and seek authorisation from parents • Only an initial risk assessment is required for regular outings unless circumstances change • Movement to other areas in a school is not an excursion

  40. Operational requirements3. Physical environment • Space requirements – indoor (s107), outdoor (s108) • Unencumbered space per child: • Indoor: at least 3.25 square metres • Outdoor: at least 7 square metres • Verandah may be included in indoor space with written DET approval (cannot also be included as outdoor space)

  41. Operational requirements3. Physical environment Building Code arrangements for new services

  42. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Staffing qualifications • All educator qualifications will be approved and determined bythe new national body, ACECQA • This includes First Aidcertificates and overseas qualifications • Transitional qualification lists are expected to be published by ACECQA

  43. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Applying ratios under the NQF • The education, health, safety and wellbeing of children are paramount • Minimum educator to child ratios apply at all times • Ratios apply across an entire service, not necessarily by room • Educators must be working directly with children to be included in ratios • Adequate supervision needs to be maintained at all times • Educator-to-child ratios alone do not determine what is considered adequate supervision

  44. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Centre-based (long day care & kindergarten) • 2012 qualification requirements • All educators must hold (or be studying towards) at a minimum a Certificate III qualification; and • The first of every two educators must hold (or be studying towards) a Diploma qualification or above • There is no legislative requirement for a teacher until 2014

  45. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Centre-based (long day care & kindergarten) • 2012 ratios • Most current educator to child ratios will apply for Queensland services until end 2015 • Services need to apply by 31 March 2012 to continue using the 1:5 ratio for 15-24 months until 31 December 2017 • DET will contact eligible services in December 2011 to apply

  46. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements Centre-based ratios from 2012 to 2020 ‘<‘ means less than and ‘>’ means more than *Eligible services need to apply to continue using 1:5 ratio from 2012 until 2018 **Means a child enrolled in schooling (Prep onwards) and attending anytime the same calendar year

  47. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Mixed age ratios under the NQF • A specific mixed age group ratio no longer exists • For each educator, the relevant ratio for each child needs to be maintained • Older children can be included in the ratio of younger children KNOWN GROUP ADDITIONAL GROUP 3 x 25 mth to prior to Prep aged children 1 x 26 mth child and 2 x 32 mth children 1 Educator : + OR 1 x 0-24 mth child In the above scenario, the youngest child falls into the >24-35 months category, so the ratio of 1:6 applies for children in the same age group or above. However, if a younger child were included, then the lower ratio would apply (1:4).

  48. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Centre-based (outside school hours care) • 2012 qualification requirements • Continue current requirements • 2012 ratios • Continue current requirements

  49. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Family day care • 2012 qualification requirements • Educator – no change until 2014 • Coordinator – no change until 2014 • 2012 ratios • No change – current ratios apply until 2016

  50. Operational requirements4. Staffing requirements • Additional requirements for ALL services - 2012 • Must appoint an educational leader • At least one person with First Aid qualifications • Asthma management • Anaphylaxis management

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