All relevant education and care services in NSW are regulated, assessed and rated under the same framework. This framework has been set up to ensure the health and safety of children in an education and care service, improve educational outcomes for these children while ensuring the regulatory approach by the department is not overly burdensome.

Risk-based approach

The department applies a risk-based approach to all regulatory processes.

As children are vulnerable members of the community, their rights and best interests are paramount. Our priority is to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending education and care services in NSW.

The department uses evidence to inform our planning and decision-making. When assessing the level of risk, we look at:

• General risk: including our understanding of particular groups (such as service types and entity types) within the early childhood education sector; and
• Specific risk: including information we hold on individual applicants or services.

By targeting our resources using a risk-based approach, we:

• decrease regulatory burden to the sector, and
• ensure our actions and processes are proportionate to the risks posed to children.

The determination of the risk level of a situation or applicant impacts the way the department monitors and regulates.

Assessment and rating process

In accordance with the risk-based approach, Assessment and Rating of early childhood services is completed by prioritising higher risk services. Since 2012 early childhood services have been subject to an assessment and rating process, which results in a service being given an overall quality rating, assessed against each of the National Quality Standards.

National Quality Framework

Most NSW services are regulated under the National Quality Framework (NQF). The department collaborates with other state and territory jurisdictions and the national authority, the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), to ensure a coherent approach to compliance under the National Law and Regulations across Australia

Information for family day care educators

We’ve put together a factsheet for family day care educators which explains the assessment and rating process including:

• how you’ll be notified of an upcoming assessment and rating visit
• how to prepare for a visit
• what to expect during a visit
• what to do if you have concerns during or after a visit.

Read the factsheet using the link below.