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15 - 36 months ratios

Important changes for service providers

Under the Child Care Act 2002 (the Act), services can use a ratio of 1:5 for children aged 15-36 months. Many services use this ratio for toddlers as an effective way to separate mobile and immobile babies. It is important to remember when making decisions about educator to child ratios and groupings to give consideration to the impact on the quality of the program and each of the seven quality areas outlined in the National Quality Standard.

While the Education and Care Services National Regulations (National Regulations ) will take effect from 1 January 2012, the educator to child ratios outlined in these National Regulations will be gradually implemented. Queensland-specific educator to child ratio requirements will apply for a defined transitional period as outlined in the table below.

Centre-based ratios from 2012 to 2020
2012 � 2015	Ratio	2016 � 2017	Ratio	1 JAN 2018+	Ratio
0-24 mths	1:4	0-24 mths	1:4	0-24 mths	1:4
15-24 mths*	1:5	15-24 mths*	1:5	0-24 mths	1:4
>24-35 mths	1:6	>24-35 mths	1:5	>24-35 mths	1:5
>30-35 mths	1:8	>24-35 mths	1:5	>24-35 mths	1:5
36 mths <7 yrs	1:12	36 mths <school age	1:11	36 mths <school age	1:11
4 yrs <7 yrs	1:13			School age**	1:15
4 yrs <14 yrs	1:12
School age**	1:15	School age**	1:15

*Eligible services need to apply to continue using the 1:5 ratio from 2012 until 2018.
**Means a child enrolled in schooling (Prep onwards) and attending or will be attending in anytime the same calendar year.

Under the National Regulations, the minimum educator to child ratios are calculated across the service - that is, the number of educators required is calculated based on all children under a single roof regardless of the room configuration (see the educator to child rations page for more information).

As detailed in the table above, under the National Regulations the educator to child ratio of 1:4 for children from birth up to 24 months of age commences from 1 January 2012.

Queensland successfully negotiated for transitional provisions under the National Regulations which allows services time to implement the new ratios. An Approved Provider can apply to continue to operate with the 1:5 educator to child ratio for children aged between 15 and 24 months until 31 December 2017 if an education and care service was:

granted a licence under the Act before 1 January 2011;
providing care to children aged 15 to 24 months immediately prior to 1 January 2012; and
is approved by the Department of Education and Training )the Department) by 31 May 2012 to continue due to demonstrated need.

The National Regulations provide that services can implement the 1:5 educator to child ratio, however services must be approved by the Department by 31 March 2012 to continue using the 1:5 educator to child ratio after 1 April 2012, and identify why the ratio is required to be maintained. For example, to meet the demographic demand for the age group, the physical infrastructure of the service is based on the existing maximum group sizes outlined in the Act therefore restricting flexibility. Another reason may be to maintain ongoing service viability.

Eligible services that do not apply by 31 March 2012 must implement the 1:4 educator to child ratio for children from birth to 24 months from 1 April 2012.

How do I apply?

The Department sent transition information to all eligible licensees in December 2011 which included the application process for the continued use of the 1:5 ratio.

Services that choose to continue using the 1:5 educator to child ratio for a group aged 15 months up to and including 24 months can apply using the application form in the transition information. If the application is approved, this information will be recorded on the Service Approval.

How long will my application take?

Applications will be processed as quickly as possible by the Department. The National Regulations provide that a service can continue to apply the 1:5 educator to child ratio until the Department has made a decision.

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This page was last reviewed on 03 Jan 2012 at 05:53PM