What is the National Quality Standard?
The National Quality Standard (NQS) is an Australian regulatory framework that sets out 7 quality areas against which approved early childhood services are assessed and rated by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.
The National Quality Standard (NQS) forms the foundation of quality assessment for early childhood education and care services across Australia. It outlines 7 distinct quality areas that licensed services must meet or exceed to operate lawfully.
These 7 quality areas are:
- Educational program and practice
- Children's health and safety
- Physical environment and safety
- Staffing arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Governance and management
Services are assessed against each quality area and assigned ratings from Exceeding NQS through to Non-compliant. For families in Perth Metropolitan seeking long-day-care and early learning providers, the NQS rating provides a standardized measure of quality and compliance. Services must demonstrate how they meet standards in areas such as staff qualifications, curriculum delivery, safety procedures, and parent engagement. The assessments are conducted by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and ratings are publicly available, allowing families to make informed choices when selecting early care for their children.