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NQF Resources

This list of resources provides early childhood education and care services, families and the broader sector with detailed information about the National Quality Framework (NQF). Services looking for assistance with the NQF should contact their local Early Childhood Officer 134k.

This table is for layout purposes only
Legislation
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010	Provides the broad architecture for the National Quality Framework (NQF).
Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011	Queensland specific legislation for the NQF.
Education and Care Services National Regulations	Outlines the detailed requirements for services under the NQF.
Guide to the National Law and Regulations	A plain-English explanation of the NQF national legislation.
National Quality Standard
National Quality Standard	The standard underpinning the NQF against which services are assessed and rated - see Schedule 1(p.300) in the National Regulations .
Guide to the National Quality Standard	Provides more detail for services about what is expected under the National Quality Standard (NQS).
Assessment and rating process
National Quality Standard Assessment and Rating Instrument	Used by Authorised Officers during a service visit to assess and rate the service against the NQS.
Guide to Assessment and Rating for Services	Helps services to understand assessment and rating against the NQS.
Guide to Assessment and Rating for Regulatory Authorities	Assists Authorised Officers to undertake the assessment and rating of services against the NQS.
Guide to developing a Quality Improvement Plan	Explains the self-assessment process and expectations for completing a Quality Improvement Plan prior to the assessment visit. This document includes an optional template.
Learning frameworks and guidelines
Approved frameworks
Early Years Learning Framework	Describes the principles, practice and outcomes essential to support and enhance young children's learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. Services catering for below school age children are required to implement an education program aligned with this framework.
My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care in Australia	Designed to inform the development of a program that enhances the experience and development of children aged five to 12 years through planned leisure activities. Any service with children in this age group is required to implement an education program aligned with this framework.
Support materials
Educator's Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework	Provides additional support to early childhood educators to use the Early Years Learning Framework.
Families Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework	Short brochure summarising key Early Years Learning Framework information for families.
Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline The Continua of Learning and Development	Supports Queensland services to deliver an approved kindergarten program that aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework. This is a support framework and services will be assessed against the Early Years Learning Framework as part of the NQS. This companion document to the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline is a professional resource that helps teachers assess and reflect on evidence of children's learning progress and plan ways to promote continuity of learning and development.
Foundations for Success: Guidelines for an early learning program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities	Aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework and assists with planning, implementing and reflecting on an early learning program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the year before Prep. This is a support framework and services will be assessed against the Early Years Learning Framework as part of the NQS.
Queensland Study Authority's process for accrediting syllabuses and guidelines	The Queensland Study Authority (QSA) offers an accreditation service for kindergarten guidelines developed outside the QSA.
Fact sheets
National fact sheets	Nationally focused information from the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.
Queensland fact sheets	Queensland specific information developed by the Department of Education, Training and Employment.
Presentations & Podcasts
Podcast Series: 1 Educator to Child Ratios under the NQF February 2012	Explains how to apply educator to child ratios under the NQF.
Video: on mixed age group ratios	Includes a video demonstration on mixed age group ratios, to be viewed in conjunction with the Podcast.
Podcast Series: 2 Self-assessment and Quality Improvement Planning April 2012	Advice on preparing for the first stage of the assessment and rating process the Quality Improvement Plan.
Regional Information Session November 2011	Provides comprehensive detail on the draft National Regulations and explores the key changes for Queensland specific to long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, pre-Prep and kindergarten services.
National Quality Framework background 1.0M 28 July 2011	Pesentation used by the Department of Education, Training and Employment to show how national and international policy and research has influenced the development of national reforms, focusing on the NQF.
Frequently asked questions
National - National Quality Framework FAQs	Nationally focused FAQs developed by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
State National Quality Framework FAQs	Queensland specific FAQs developed by the Department of Education, Training and Employment.
Support
Regional Early Childhood Officers and Managers 134k	Early Childhood Officers and Mangers are located throughout Queensland. Their role is to assist services to understand and implement the National Quality Framework from 1 January 2012.

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This page was last reviewed on 30 Apr 2012