The National Quality Framework (NQF) is the regulatory system that governs early childhood education and care services across Australia. For childcare operators, understanding how it works — and what genuinely meeting its standards looks like in practice — is not just a compliance obligation. It is the foundation of a well-run service.

As of mid-2025, 91% of assessed services nationally are rated Meeting NQS or above, sustained for four consecutive quarters. That improvement from 62% a decade ago reflects significant sector development. It also means expectations are rising, and services that aren't actively managing their quality position risk falling behind.

What the NQF actually is

The NQF was introduced through the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and is administered nationally by ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority). Day-to-day assessments and ratings are conducted by state and territory regulatory authorities.

The framework covers all approved childcare services: long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, and preschool/kindergarten. It operates through the National Quality Standard (NQS), the National Regulations, and the Early Years Learning Framework.

The 7 Quality Areas and 18 Standards

The NQS is structured around 7 Quality Areas, each with a set of standards. Together they cover 18 standards and 58 individual elements.

Quality Area 1 — Educational program and practice

Three standards cover how the educational program enhances each child's learning and development, how educators facilitate and extend learning, and whether educators take a planned and reflective approach to assessment and planning.

Quality Area 2 — Children's health and safety

Two standards address the promotion of each child's health and physical activity, and protection of each child from harm.

Quality Area 3 — Physical environment

Two standards examine whether the design of facilities is appropriate for the operation of the service, and whether the space is used effectively.

Quality Area 4 — Staffing arrangements

Two standards cover whether staffing arrangements enhance children's learning and development, and whether management and educators operate collaboratively, respectfully, and ethically.

Quality Area 5 — Relationships with children

Two standards assess relationships between educators and children, and whether each child is supported to build and maintain relationships with peers.

Quality Area 6 — Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

Two standards cover supportive relationships with families, and whether collaborative partnerships enhance children's inclusion, learning, and wellbeing.

Quality Area 7 — Governance and leadership

Two standards examine whether governance supports the operation of a quality service, and whether effective leadership builds a positive organisational culture.

What the ratings mean

Each service is assessed against the NQS and receives one of four ratings:

  • Excellent — awarded by ACECQA directly, recognising exceptional practice
  • Exceeding NQS — meeting the standard and demonstrating practice that is embedded, critical, and reflective
  • Meeting NQS — satisfying all requirements of the standard
  • Working Towards NQS — not yet meeting one or more elements of the standard

As of the June 2025 ACECQA snapshot, approximately 21% of assessed services nationally hold an Exceeding NQS or Excellent rating, with around 70% at Meeting NQS and 9% Working Towards NQS. Preschool and kindergarten services have the highest proportion of Exceeding ratings (52%), reflecting the qualified educator workforce in those settings.

Where services most commonly struggle

Quality Area 1 (Educational program and practice) and Quality Area 7 (Governance and leadership) are the areas regulators scrutinise most carefully, particularly for services with consistency issues across rooms or shifts. QA7 in particular reflects how well the organisation as a whole is functioning — not just individual rooms.

Services rated Working Towards NQS are disproportionately in more disadvantaged areas. ACECQA data shows 89% of services in the most disadvantaged areas are rated Meeting NQS or above, compared to 94% in more advantaged areas — a gap that has persisted despite overall sector improvement.

How assessments work in practice

Assessment and rating visits are conducted by state and territory regulatory authorities. Assessors observe practice, examine documentation including the Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), and speak with educators and leadership. The QIP is the service's own analysis of where it sits against each standard and what it is doing to improve.

A strong QIP is not a compliance document that collects dust. Assessors are specifically looking for whether the QIP reflects genuine, ongoing reflection — and whether the practice they observe in the service matches what the QIP describes.

What Exceeding practice actually looks like

The distinction between Meeting and Exceeding is not about having more documentation. It is about the depth and consistency of practice. ACECQA describes three themes that define Exceeding practice:

  • Practice is embedded in service operations — it is consistent, not dependent on one person, and evident across rooms and shifts
  • Practice is informed by critical reflection — educators and leadership are actively questioning and improving what they do
  • Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community — relationships with families are substantive, not just communicative

Services that reach Exceeding have typically built quality into how they operate day-to-day, rather than preparing specifically for assessment periods.

Key sources