Quality Area 1 – Educational program and practice

July 10, 2025

NQS QA1: Quality Area 1: Educational Program and Practice

This area focuses on delivering a high-quality, engaging, and responsive program that builds on each child’s strengths, interests, and learning goals. Educators are intentional in their practice—planning and reflecting thoughtfully, responding to children in the moment, and creating meaningful learning opportunities. In school age care, the program supports life skills, social development, and complements children’s broader experiences at school, home, and in the community.

Educational program and practice
Standard 1.1	Program	The educational program enhances each child’s learning and development.
Element 1.1.1	Approved learning framework	Curriculum decision-making contributes to each child’s learning and development outcomes in relation to their identity, connection with community, wellbeing, confidence as learners and effectiveness as communicators.
Element 1.1.2	Child-centred	Each child’s current knowledge, strengths, ideas, culture, abilities and interests are the foundation of the program.
Element 1.1.3	Program learning opportunities	All aspects of the program, including routines, are organised in ways that maximise opportunities for each child’s learning.
Standard 1.2	Practice	Educators facilitate and extend each child’s learning and development.
Element 1.2.1	Intentional teaching	Educators are deliberate, purposeful, and thoughtful in their decisions and actions.
Element 1.2.2	Responsive teaching and scaffolding	Educators respond to children’s ideas and play and extend children’s learning through open-ended questions, interactions and feedback.
Element 1.2.3	Child directed learning	Each child's agency is promoted, enabling them to make choices and decisions that influence events and their world.
Standard 1.3	Assessment and planning	Educators and coordinators take a planned and reflective approach to implementing the program for each child.
Element 1.3.1	Assessment and planning cycle	Each child's learning and development is assessed or evaluated as part of an ongoing cycle of observation, analysing learning, documentation, planning, implementation and reflection.
Element 1.3.2	Critical reflection	Critical reflection on children's learning and development, both as individuals and in groups, drives program planning and implementation.
Element 1.3.3	Information for families	Families are informed about the program and their children's progress.

Resources that Further Support Educators in Understanding NQS QA1:

At Sticks & Stones Education, we are passionate about providing high-quality learning resources that align with the EYLF and support children's holistic development. Our curated collection of toys, sensory materials, and educational resources has been handpicked by early childhood education professionals to enrich children's play and learning experiences. Whether you're looking for open-ended toys, literacy and numeracy resources, or materials to encourage creativity, we have something to support every child’s growth.