Young children are to receive a higher quality of care, following new national childhood education rules adopted by the NSW Government.
Key changes to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and National Regulations come into effect in NSW on 1 October 2017 and include:
- improved oversight of services and support within family day care to strengthen compliance and quality
- introduction of a national educator to child ratio of 1:15 for services providing education and care to school aged children.
A revised National Quality Standard with clearer language and simplified standards will begin in NSW on 1 February 2018.
Families, communities and industry sector representatives were consulted during the review of the National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care, which began in 2014.
NSW Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said the changes "should give families greater confidence in the quality of care and education provided to their children.”
“Regulatory oversight will be improved and unnecessary red tape reduced for approved providers. Importantly, these changes will strengthen oversight and regulatory activity in the family day care sector," Mrs Mitchell said.
“The NSW government is fully committed to supporting providers to deliver quality care that working parents and carers can rely on.”