What is the National Quality Standard (NQS)? Educator Edition

April 23, 2025

🌟 What is the National Quality Standard (NQS)?

Setting the benchmark for quality in early education and care

When families choose an early learning service, whether it’s long day care, preschool, family day care, or out of school hours care - they’re trusting that service to support their child’s growth, wellbeing, and learning. The National Quality Standard (NQS) is how we ensure that trust is well-placed.

Established as part of the National Quality Framework (NQF), the NQS sets a national benchmark for what quality education and care should look like in Australia.

📋 So, what does the NQS actually cover?

The NQS is made up of 7 Quality Areas, each one focusing on a different but equally important aspect of early childhood education and care. These Quality Areas reflect what matters most for positive outcomes for children - from their health and safety, to their relationships, environments, and learning programs.

Every approved service is assessed and rated by its regulatory authority against the NQS. Services receive a rating for each of the seven Quality Areas, as well as an overall rating.

This process helps families make informed decisions and supports services to continually reflect and improve.

🌈 The 7 Quality Areas of the NQS

Each Quality Area is a lens through which we view and evaluate high-quality practice. Here’s a snapshot of what each one covers:

🧠 Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice

The heart of every early learning service. This area looks at how educators plan and deliver programs that are child-centred, engaging, and designed to extend each child’s learning.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 1

❤️ Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety

Children thrive in environments that support their wellbeing. This area ensures that services safeguard children's health, safety, and welfare every single day.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 2

🌿 Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment

Learning happens everywhere—not just inside. This area focuses on how the physical spaces are designed to be safe, inclusive, and rich in learning opportunities, indoors and out.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 3

👩🏫 Quality Area 4 – Staffing Arrangements

Quality care starts with quality people. This area covers how services employ qualified, skilled educators who can create predictable, respectful environments where children feel secure and engaged.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 4

🧸 Quality Area 5 – Relationships with Children

Positive relationships are at the core of learning. This area ensures that children are seen, heard, and supported through responsive and respectful interactions.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 5

🤝 Quality Area 6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities

Families are a child’s first teachers. This area values partnerships, communication, and collaboration between educators, families, and the wider community.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 6

🏛️ Quality Area 7 – Governance and Leadership

Behind every high-quality service is strong leadership. This area looks at how vision, values, and management structures shape continuous improvement and quality care.

👉 Read more about Quality Area 7

✨ Why It Matters

The NQS isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about raising the standard for every child, every educator, and every family. It gives services a roadmap for reflection and growth, and it gives families peace of mind that their child is receiving the care and education they deserve.

Stay tuned as we explore each Quality Area in more detail—breaking down what it means in practice, how services are rated, and how you can reflect or improve in your own setting.st