As promised at the last election, rigorous new quality standards and a new five category quality rating system is being developed to drive improvement in the quality of child care and early learning and give parents more information about their child care centre or preschool.
The National Quality Standards Framework is part of the Rudd Government's $2.4 billion early childhood education agenda.
The Rudd Government wants to ensure that we have a rigorous quality framework in place so that parents can rest assured their child is getting high quality education and care.
A discussion paper has been released to guide the extensive consultation process planned for August and September.
Forums will take place in all states and territories in capital cities and regional centres, beginning in Melbourne on Friday.
The forums will address the following topics: new national quality standards in early childhood education and care; a quality ratings system; streamlined regulatory arrangements and a new National Early Years Learning Framework.
At the first Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting under the Rudd Government, state and territory governments agreed to work in partnership with the Commonwealth to develop a National Quality Standards Framework for early childhood education and care and an Early Years Learning Framework.
The outcomes of these consultations will be used to further inform the development and implementation of COAG’s key early childhood education and care reform initiatives, including the draft national quality standards, A-E ratings system, a plan for enhancing the wider regulatory framework and the Early Years Learning Framework.
To access a copy of the discussion paper and the schedule of public forums please visit
www.deewr.gov.au/childforums