Early Childhood Education & Care in Australia

There is now a wide body of evidence showing that early childhood education and care affects a child’s health, wellbeing and competence throughout their lives. The early years are critical in laying the foundation for children’s achievement in schooling and into adulthood.

This website offers a large number of research and discussion papers relating to the value of high quality early childhood education and care.

Quality early childhood learning experiences provide the basis from which literacy, numeracy, learning, behaviour and future opportunities can be developed. The benefits of early childhood education and care are most significant for disadvantaged children. Early childhood education and care provides a valuable opportunity to help overcome the disadvantage experienced by children from a young age and to put them on a positive pathway for life and learning.

The Need for a National Quality Framework

The National Quality Framework is an important early childhood reform designed to deliver a higher standard of care for children in Australia. The NQF covers the critical areas of education, development, health and safety and provides clear and comprehensive information for families about services for their children.

Standards across early childhood education and care services vary across Australia and there is often limited information to help families choose the best service for their children. The NQF is about ensuring services are of the highest possible quality for a child’s optimum development and provides families with the right information to help them make informed choices.