The Education and Care National Quality Standard in WA schools

1. The Education and Care National Quality Standard in WA schools

2. Early Childhood Development Strategy ‘by 2020, all children have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves and the nation’

3. National Quality Framework • Ensures the safety, health and well-being of children attending education and care services • Improves the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending education and care services • Promotes continuous improvement in the provision of quality education and care services • Establish a system of national integration and shared responsibility between participating jurisdictions and the Commonwealth in the administration of the national quality framework • Improve public knowledge, and access to information about the quality of education and care services • Reduce the regulatory and administrative burden for education and care services by enabling information to be shared between jurisdictions and the Commonwealth.

4. Discussion Point Do you agree that implementing a NQS should apply to early years programs provided by schools or rather to just pre-kindergarten and kindergarten?

5. What could implementation of the NQS mean for schools?

6. National Quality Standard • Quality Area 1 for focuses on ensuring the educational program and practice is stimulating and engaging and enhances children’s learning and development • Quality Area 2 focuses on safeguarding and promoting children’s health and safety • Quality Area 3 focuses on the physical environment and ensuring it is safe, suitable and provides a rich and diverse range of experiences that promote children’s learning and development • Quality Area 4 focuses on staffing arrangements and the provision of qualified and experienced educators who are able to develop warm, respectful relationships with children, create safe and predictable environments and encourage children’s active engagement in the learning program • Quality Area 5 focuses on relationships with children being responsive and respectful and promoting children’s sense of security and belonging. • Quality Area 6 focuses on collaborative partnerships with families that are fundamental to achieving quality outcomes for children and community partnerships. • Quality Area 7 focuses on leadership and management of the school that contributes to quality environments for children’s learning and development.

7. Discussion Point • What are the PMI’s of this approach to the implementation of the NQS in early years programs in public and non-government schools? • Does the approach support continuity and coherence of early years programs in schools?

8. When could the NQS be implemented in schools?

9. Since August … • Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs provided by Western Australian schools were excluded from the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act (2012). • Amendments to the School Education Act 1999 (“the Act”) made pre-kindergarten programs provided by Western Australian schools subject to the requirements of the Act and other existing and future legislation that is relevant to school provision in Western Australia. • Long day care (LDC) and outside school hours care (OSHC) services that are provided by schools were made subject to the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act (2012).

10. How could the NQS be implemented in schools?

11. Quality Improvement Plan • Monitoring and Review of QIP • Verification of school review

12. Discussion Point • What do you think of this possible layered approach to quality assurance in relation to the NQS for public and non-government schools?

13. So what would be required for the NQS to be implemented in schools?

14. Issues • Training • Issues to be resolved • Certificate III • Definition of ‘early childhood teacher’ • Pre-kindergarten provision • Communication • Funding • Moderation ….