Council's Children’s Services ranked in Top 9% in the State

Northern Beaches Council’s Family Day Care Centre, Dee Why Children’s Centre and Narrabeen Children’s Centre are all now ranked it in the top nine percent of Centres in the State after officially being rated as ‘Exceeding the National Quality Standard’ under the National Quality Framework The National Quality Standard (NQS).

The NQS sets the national benchmark for the quality of children’s education and care services across Australia.

Services are assessed against the NQS by the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate and receive a rating for each of seven quality areas of the standard as well as an overall rating.

An overall rating of ‘Exceeding’ is given only to services that go above and beyond the requirements of the Standard.

The NQS Assessment Officer commented in their report on the Council Children’s Centres: 

“Your service is commended on its achievements in Exceeding the National Quality Standard. In particular, careful planning, reflective practice and willingness to collaborate with families and other community organisations to enhance children’s learning and wellbeing demonstrate the commitment to quality by educators at your service.

“Management and educators demonstrated a willingness to consistently reflect on service processes to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and families are present.

“Practices within service delivery are fostered around meaningful engagement with families and the wider community.”

In February 2018, the NQS tightened the ‘Exceeding’ service criteria, from 30 percent to nine making it more difficult to reach this rating.

Congratulations to these Centres for the service they provide to local children and their families – it’s a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our childhood educators.