“The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a national benchmark for the quality of children’s education and care services across Australia.
“Services are assessed against the NQS by the state or territory regulatory authority. In Victoria, that is the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA), who provide a rating for each of the seven quality areas of the NQS, as well as an overall rating.
“An overall rating of Meeting NQS is given to services that provide quality education and care in all seven quality areas. To achieve this, and more, across 41 services – from Echuca to Elmore, Wodonga to Woorinen, is something we are exceptionally proud of.
“We have 17 services Meeting the NQS and 24 Exceeding the NQS, with 8 of those Exceeding services exceeding in all seven quality areas. We have three new services awaiting assessment. What this means is that no matter which Shine Bright service a child is enrolled in, they will receive high-quality care and education,” David said.
The seven quality areas against which services are rated are:
Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice: Your child is supported to participate in play and learning.
Quality Area 2: Children’s health and safety: Your child is protected from illness and hazards.
Quality Area 3: Physical environment: Your child plays in a safe and well maintained environment.
Quality Area 4: Staffing arrangements: There are enough qualified staff to give your child the attention they need.
Quality Area 5: Relationships with children: Your child is made to feel supported and welcomed.
Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities: Local community involvement and respect for the beliefs and values of families.
Quality Area 7: Governance and leadership: Your child is cared for in a positive and well managed environment.
“For more than forty years, Shine Bright, in various guises, has been driven by passion, not profit.
Delivering high-quality education and care to give children the best start in life has always been our mainstay.
“As one of Victoria’s largest providers of early education and care, we are proud of the impact we have had on Victorian communities.
“The early years don’t last long – but they matter for a lifetime. When children experience strong early learning environments, the benefits are felt not only by them, but by families, schools and communities, well into the future.”
The National Quality Framework (NQF) for early childhood education and care was agreed by all Australian governments to get better educational and development outcomes for children using education and care services.
Implementation of the NQF is guided by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). To learn more about the NQF and service ratings, visit the ACECQA website or ACECQA’s family-focused website, Starting Blocks.