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- Guide to the NQF
- Section 3: National Quality Standard and Assessment and Rating
- Quality Area 4: Staffing arrangements
- Standard 4.1: Staffing arrangements
- Element 4.1.1: Organisation of educators
Table of contents
- Guide to the NQF
- Icons legend
- Section 1: Introduction
- Section 2: Applications and Approvals
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Section 3: National Quality Standard and Assessment and Rating
- National Quality Standard
- Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice
- Quality Area 2: Children’s health and safety
- Quality Area 3: Physical environment
- Quality Area 4: Staffing arrangements
- Quality Area 5: Relationships with children
- Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Quality Area 7: Governance and leadership
- Assessment and rating process
- Section 4: Operational Requirements
- Section 5: Regulatory Authority Powers
- Section 6: Reviews
- Section 7: Glossary
- Guide to the NQS reference list
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Element 4.1.1: Organisation of educators
| National Law and National Regulations underpinning Element 4.1.1Section 51(2) Conditions on service approval (FDC Co-ordinators) Section 161 Offence to operate education and care service without nominated supervisor Section 161A Offence for nominated supervisor not to meet prescribed minimum requirements Section 162 Offence to operate education and care service unless responsible person is present Section 163 Offence relating to appointment or engagement of family day care co-ordinators Section 164 Offence relating to assistance to family day care Section 164A Offence relating to the education and care of children by family day care service Section 169 Offence relating to staffing arrangements Section 269 Register of family day care educators, co-ordinators and assistants Regulation 117A Placing a person in day-to-day charge Regulation 117B Minimum requirements for a person in day-to-day charge Regulation 117C Minimum requirements for a nominated supervisor Regulation 118 Educational leader Regulation 119 Family day care educator and family day care educator assistant to be at least 18 years old Regulation 120 Educators who are under 18 to be supervised Regulation 123 Educators to child ratios – centre-based services Regulation 123A Family day care co-ordinator to educator ratios – family day care service Regulation 124 Number of children who can be educated and cared for – family day care educator Regulation 126 Centre-based services – general educator qualifications Regulation 126A Illness or absence of a qualified educator who is required to meet the relevant educator to child ratio Regulation 127 Family day care educator qualifications Regulation 128 Family day care co-ordinator qualifications Regulation 130 Requirement for early childhood teacher – centre-based services – fewer than 25 approved places Regulation 131 Requirement for early childhood teacher – centre-based services – 25 or more approved places but fewer than 25 children Regulation 132 Requirement for early childhood teacher – centre-based services – 25 to 59 children Regulation 133 Requirement for early childhood teacher – centre-based services—60 to 80 children Regulation 134 Requirement for early childhood teacher – centre-based services – more than 80 children Regulation 135 Early childhood teacher illness or absence Regulation 136 First aid qualifications Regulation 143A Minimum requirements for a family day care educator Regulation 143B Ongoing management of family day care educators Regulation 144 Family day care educator assistant Regulation 145 Staff record Regulation 146 Nominated supervisor Regulation 147 Staff members Regulation 148 Educational leader Regulation 149 Volunteers and students Regulation 150 Responsible person Regulation 151 Record of educators working directly with children Regulation 152 Record of access to early childhood teachers Regulation 152A Record of replacement of educator Regulation 152B Record of replacement of early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person Regulation 153 Register of family day care educators, co-ordinators and assistants Regulation 154 Record of staff other than family day care educators, family day care co-ordinators and family day care educator assistants General transitional and saving provisionsRegulation 239 Centre-based service offering a preschool program in a composite class in a school Regulation 239A Centre-based services in remote and very remote areas – attendance of early childhood teachers Regulation 241 Persons taken to hold an approved early childhood teaching qualification Regulation 242 Persons taken to be early childhood teachers Regulation 243 Persons taken to hold an approved diploma level education and care qualification Regulation 243A Persons taken to hold an approved diploma level education and care qualification for regulation 128 in Queensland Regulation 244 Persons taken to hold an approved certificate III level education and care qualification Jurisdiction specific provisionsACT Regulation 260 Children over preschool age – minimum number of educators and qualifications required Regulation 261 General qualifications for educators – children over preschool age – centre-based services Regulation 262 Required qualifications to be a qualified educator for children over preschool age Regulation 264 General qualification for educators – Centre-based services Regulation 265 Required qualifications to be a qualified educator – unexpected absence of qualified educator Regulation 267 Early childhood teacher – 60 or more children NSW Regulations 271 Educator to child ratios – children aged 36 months or more but less than 6 years Regulation 272 Early childhood teachers – children preschool age or under Regulation 278 Qualifications for primary contact staff members-saving Regulation 388 Educator to child ratios (centre-based services) NT Regulation 290 General qualification requirements for educators – children over preschool age Regulation 294 Early childhood teacher – 60 or more children Qld Regulation 299 General qualification requirements for educators – children over preschool age Regulations 299C Educator to child ratios during rest period Regulations 299D Additional staff members of volunteers Regulations 299E Qualifications for educators Regulations 299F Educator to child ratios when educator, early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person on rest pause Regulations 299G Access to or attendance of early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person on rest pause Regulations 299H Educator to child ratios when educator, early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person absent for 5 minutes or less Regulations 299I Access to or attendance of early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person absent for 5 minutes or less Regulation 300 Educator to child ratios – children aged 15 months to 24 months Regulation 304 Early childhood teacher – 60 or more children SA Regulation 321 General requirements for educators – children over preschool age Regulation 324 Early childhood teachers – preschools Regulation 325A Educator to child ratios during short absence of educators Regulation 332 Early childhood teacher – 60 or more but fewer than 81 children Regulation 333 Early childhood teacher – more than 80 children Regulation 334 Educator to child ratios – exemption condition for family day care services Regulation 335 Transitional provision – educator to child ratios – regulatory authority may continue to exempt family day care services Tas Regulation 342 Educator to child ratio – children preschool age and under who are 36 months of age or over Regulation 342A Educator to child ratios during short absence of educators Regulation 343 Qualifications for educators – preschools Regulation 349 Early childhood teacher in attendance – 60 or more children Vic Regulation 356 Qualifications of educators – children over preschool age Regulation 357 Educator to child ratio – children aged over 24 months but less than 36 months Regulation 363 Early childhood teacher in attendance – 60 or more children Regulation 364 Educational qualifications – centre-based services – saving of existing experience and qualification Regulation 366 Qualifications for family day care educators – saving of existing experience and qualifications WA Regulation 369 Educator to child ratio – children over preschool age Regulation 370 General qualification requirements for educators – children over preschool age Regulation 372 Educator to child ratio – pre-kindergarten programme or kindergarten programme by a school Regulation 373 Early childhood teachers – pre-kindergarten programme or kindergarten programme provided by a school Regulation 379 Educators required to be early childhood teachers |
What Element 4.1.1 aims to achieve
The organisation of educators across a service is a key factor in supporting all children to have opportunities to engage in meaningful learning and interactions with educators with whom they are familiar and comfortable. Carefully planned rosters support educators to be available and responsive to children, and support quality experiences and adequate supervision at all times when children are attending the service.
The National Regulations set educator-to-child ratios to ensure the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children while attending the service, including during excursions and incursions. The presence of adequate numbers of qualified and experienced educators has been consistently linked with quality interactions and positive learning experiences for children. To be counted in the required educator-to-child ratio, educators must be directly involved in the education and care of children and, where required, hold or be actively working towards an approved qualification. In addition to meeting the required educator-to-child ratio, adequate supervision of children must be maintained at all times.
The National Regulations also set qualification requirements for co-ordinators in family day care services. Qualified and experienced co-ordinators train, support and monitor educators in their education and care role with children.
Assessment guide for meeting Element 4.1.1 (for all services)
Organisation of educators
Assessors may observe:
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Centre-based services |
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Assessors may discuss:
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Centre-based services |
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School age children |
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School age children |
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Assessors may sight:
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School age children |
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Centre-based services |
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Family day care |
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