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Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations PDF
Download "Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011"
Laureen Norton
1 2 Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 November 2011
2 Copyright The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the CC BY 3.0 AU licence ( The document must be attributed as the Guide to the National Law and Regulations ISBN [PRINT] [PDF] [RTF] TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
3 Contents About this guide... 7 How this guide is organised... 7 Chapter 1: Introduction...9 Legislative framework of the National Quality Framework... 9 Objectives... 9 Guiding principles Services covered by the National Law...11 Services excluded by the National Law...11 Services excluded by the National Regulations Where key definitions can be found Chapter 2: Approvals and certificates Part 2.1: Provider approvals Application process Determining an application for provider approval...19 Grant and issue of provider approval Conditions on provider approvals Amendment of provider approval Suspension of provider approval Cancellation of provider approval Approval of executor, representative or guardian as Approved Provider Part 2.2: Service approvals...23 Application process Determining an application for service approval Grant and issue of service approval Conditions on service approval Amendment of service approval Change to Nominated Supervisor Transfer of service approval Suspension of service approval Cancellation of service approval Waivers TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 1
4 Part 2.3: Supervisor Certificates...34 Application process Determining an application for a Supervisor Certificate If the Regulatory Authority grants a Supervisor Certificare Conditions on Supervisor Certificates Amendment of a Supervisor Certificate Suspension or cancellation of a Supervisor Certificate Summary of timeframes relating to approvals Chapter 3: Assessments and ratings Part 3.1: Quality Improvement Plans...42 Part 3.2: Rating levels...44 Part 3.3: Assessment process...45 Reassessment and re-rating Part 3.4: Review of ratings Internal review of ratings by Regulatory Authority Further review by Ratings Review Panel...48 Part 3.5: Award of highest rating...48 Part 3.6: Offences for falsely representing ratings...49 Chapter 4: Operational requirements Part 4.1: Educational program and practice...52 Quality Area 1: Standards and Elements Educational program Assessment of children s learning Information for parents about educational program Part 4.2: Children s health and safety Quality Area 2: Standards and Elements Health, hygiene and safe food practices Food and beverages Sleep and rest Tobacco, drug and alcohol-free environment Child protection Incidents, injury, trauma and illness Serious incidents Infectious diseases...60 First aid kits...61 Medical conditions Administration of medication TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
5 Adequate supervision...64 Protection from harm and hazards...66 Emergency procedures Telephone or other communication equipment...68 Collection of children...68 Excursions...69 Part 4.3: Physical environment Quality Area 3: Standards and Elements Fencing and security Furniture, materials and equipment Laundry and hygiene facilities...73 Indoor space requirements Outdoor space requirements Toilet and hygiene facilities Ventilation and natural light...77 Administrative space...77 Nappy change facilities...78 Outdoor space natural environment Outdoor space shade Premises designed to facilitate supervision...80 Assessments of family day care residences and venues Glass Part 4.4: Staffing arrangements...83 Quality Area 4: Standards and Elements Responsible person Nominated Supervisor...84 Certified Supervisor in day-to-day charge Educational leader Age and supervision requirements...86 Educator-to-child ratios Qualification requirements: Centre-based services...90 Qualification requirements: Family day care services Summary of qualification requirements First aid qualification requirements Approval of qualifications Staff records: Centre-based services Register of family day care educators Staff, educator, coordinator and educator assistant records: Family day care services TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 3
6 Part 4.5: Relationships with children Quality Area 5: Standards and Elements Interactions with children Relationships in groups Part 4.6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities Quality Area 6: Standards and Elements Part 4.7: Leadership and service management Quality Area 7: Standards and Elements Child attendance records Child enrolment records Other adults at the family day care residence to be fit and proper Notice of new persons at residence Visitors to family day care residence or venue Policies and procedures Prescribed information to be displayed Notifications required Record keeping Chapter 5: Review, enforcement and compliance Approaches and tools to assist with compliance Authorised officers Monitoring of education and care services Compliance actions Infringement notices Enforceable undertaking Compliance directions Compliance notices Prohibition notice Notice to suspend a family day care educator Emergency action notice Emergency removal of children Offences under the National Law and National Regulations Publication of enforcement action taken under the National Law Review of decision internal review Review of decision external review Summary of offences under the National Law Summary of offences under the National Regulations TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
7 Chapter 6: Administration Part 6.1: The National Authority and Regulatory Authorities Australian Children s Education and Care Quality Authority Regulatory Authorities Part 6.2: Information, records and privacy Application of laws Publication of registers and information Disclosure of information Part 6.3: Fees Multiple service types Late payment fees (annual fees) Waiver, reduction, deferral and refund of fees Fee structure as at 1 January Indexation of fees Part 6.4: Delegations Chapter 7: Transitional and Savings Arrangements Approvals Declared approvals Existing applicants for provider approval and service approval Existing multiple approvals to merge Service waiver and temporary waiver Declared out of scope services Staffing arrangements Preschool program in a composite class in a school Persons taken to count as an educator holding an approved Certificate III qualification Certificate III qualified educators Diploma qualified educators Early childhood teachers First aid qualifications Anaphylaxis training Asthma training Physical environment Exemptions declared approved Centre-based service Exemptions declared out of scope service Fencing and security exemption- declared approved Family day care service Preschool program in a composite class in a school TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 5
8 Assessment and rating Quality Improvement Plans Display of accreditation and rating Taken to comply Compliance Effect of non-compliance before 1 January Notices and undertakings Offences Information retention and sharing Information held by Regulatory Authorities Information held by providers Approved Learning Frameworks Contacts Sample forms and templates Incident, injury, trauma and illness record Medication record Excursion risk management plan Staff record Record of family day care co-ordinators, assistants and staff Record of visitors to family day care residence or approved venue TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
9 About this guide The purpose of this guide is to assist providers of education and care services, Nominated Supervisors and educators to understand the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 ( National Law ) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 ( National Regulations ). It provides examples of how providers, services and supervisors might meet their obligations under the National Law and National Regulations. Some of the explanatory context is drawn from the Guide to the National Quality Standard and the Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plan so you may also see it replicated in those documents. This guide does not replace the National Law and National Regulations and is provided solely for guidance and assistance. Approved providers and those working directly with children should read and understand the National Law and National Regulations. Approved Services should seek their own legal advice for a full interpretation of the National Law and National Regulations. This guide contains information relevant to Centre-based services, including long day care, preschool (also called kindergarten in some jurisdictions) and outside school hours care, and Family day care services. As a general approach, each section highlights key elements of the National Law and National Regulations but it is not exhaustive. In many areas additional information is provided about how a service may operationalise the requirements on a day to day basis. This information is provided as guidance only. How this guide is organised This guide is organised into chapters which align with the structure of the National Regulations. Where a topic refers the reader to a particular regulation of the National Regulations or section of the National Law, the reference will be noted in a green box, for example: National Law: eg Section 53 National Regulations: eg Regulation 104 Purple text boxes will highlight examples of practice, or information to note Other boxes will refer the reader to other parts of this guide for more information on a particular topic or requirement. Orange text boxes include guidance information. Indicates the fee for this application TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 7
10 This guide also provides cross-references to the National Quality Standard, to help the reader understand the relationship between the National Law, the National Regulations and the National Quality Standard. Information relating specifically to a service type or age group will be in bold for example, relating to a Centre-based service or a Family day care service. 8 TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
11 Chapter 1: Introduction Legislative framework of the National Quality Framework The National Law is not a Commonwealth Law. The National Quality Framework is being established under an applied law system comprising the Education and Care Services National Law and Education and Care Services National Regulations and will apply to most long day care, family day care and preschools (or kindergartens) and outside school hours care services in Australia. A national applied law is a way of establishing national laws whereby a host jurisdiction (in this case Victoria) passes a law (the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic)) and other jurisdictions adopt that law or pass corresponding legislation. The purpose of the Education and Care Services National Law is to create a jointly-governed, uniform and integrated national approach to the regulation and quality assessment of education and care services. The National Law sets out the objectives and guiding principles for the National Quality Framework. Objectives National Law: Section 3 (2) The objectives of the National Quality Framework are to: ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending education and care services improve the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending education and care services promote continuous improvement in the provision of quality education and care services establish a system of national integration and shared responsibility between participating jurisdictions and the Commonwealth in the administration of the National Quality Framework improve public knowledge, and access to information, about the quality of education and care services reduce the regulatory and administrative burden for education and care services by enabling information to be shared between participating jurisdictions and the Commonwealth. TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 9
12 Guiding principles National Law: Section 3(3) The following principles apply when making decisions about operating education and care services, and working to achieve the National Quality Standard and improve quality at each service: the rights and best interests of the child are paramount children are successful, competent and capable learners the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity underly the National Law that Australia s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are valued that the role of parents and families is respected and supported that best practice is expected in the provision of education and care services. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child articulates the rights of all children and provides a set of guiding principles that shape the way we view children. Best interests of the child is one of these guiding principles and sets out that when adults make decisions, they should consider how these decisions will affect children. The National Law sets out: approval processes for the operation of education and care services the assessment and rating system key operational requirements compliance, monitoring and enforcement powers review of decisions made by Regulatory Authorities the functions and powers of the Ministerial Council the functions and powers of the Australian Children s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) the national body that will oversee the new system the functions and powers of Regulatory Authorities in each jurisdiction creation of a nationally consistent freedom of information and privacy framework to apply to ACECQA and Regulatory Authorities publication of information, including registers key transitional arrangements. 10 TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
13 Services covered by the National Law National Law: Section 5 The National Quality Framework covers most long day care, family day care, preschool (kindergarten) and outside school hours care services. The National Quality Framework has commenced with the largest services in terms of numbers of children. Given the range and diversity of education and care services, an all-encompassing national system will take a number of years to achieve. Further work will be undertaken in the future to assess how and when other services may be incorporated, including cost benefit analyses for inclusion of these services. Given that additional types of education and care services may be brought into the National Quality Framework later, the National Law adopts a broad definition of education and care service as any service providing or intending to provide education and care on a regular basis to children under 13 years of age, except those services that are specifically excluded either by the National Law or the National Regulations. Services excluded by the National Law The following services are excluded by the National Law and are not within the scope of the National Quality Framework: a school providing full-time education to children, including children in the year before Grade 1, but not including a preschool program delivered in a school or a preschool that is registered as a school (as these are within scope) a preschool program delivered in a school if the program is delivered in a class or classes where a full-time education program is also being delivered to school children and the program is delivered to fewer than six children in the school (a composite class) a personal arrangement a service principally conducted to provide instruction in a particular activity (for example, a language class or ballet class) a service providing education and care to patients in a hospital or patients of a medical or therapeutic care service care provided under a child protection law of a participating jurisdiction. Services that are excluded by the National Law are unlikely to be brought into the National Quality Framework in the future. TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 11
14 Services excluded by the National Regulations National Regulations: Regulation 5 Services that are excluded by the National Regulations may be brought into the National Quality Framework in the future. The National Regulations exclude the following services: disability services defined under state or territory law, and early childhood intervention services for children with additional needs education and care in a child s home education and care in a residence, other than as part of a Family day care service occasional care services (for example, offered at short notice or on a casual basis) education and care provided by a hotel or resort to children of short-term guests at the hotel or resort education and care that is provided on an ad hoc basis to children of a guest, visitor or patron where the person who is responsible for the children is readily available at all times education and care where it is primarily provided or shared by parents or family members education and care provided at a secondary school to a child of a student attending the school, where the parent retains responsibility for the child mobile services services that provide education and care for no more than four weeks per calendar year during school holidays transition to school programs provided by a school to orient children to that school budget based funded services, other than where they receive Child Care Benefit playschools licensed in the Australian Capital Territory stand-alone services in Queensland playcentres in South Australia services licensed as Centre-based Class 4 or 5 services under the Child Care Act 2001 in Tasmania licensed limited hours or short-term services in Queensland or Victoria government-funded services under the Children and Community Services Act 2004 of Western Australia. 12 TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
15 Where key definitions can be found National Law: Section 5 National Regulations: Regulations 4, child over preschool age child preschool age or under education and care service premises educator emergency excursion family day care educator assistant family member Meaning of actively working towards a qualification Meaning of serious incident Meaning of in attendance at a centre-based service Meaning of working directly with children office, in relation to a Family day care service parent participating jurisdiction person person with management or control preschool program regular outing Regulatory Authority school children staff member Regulation 4, National Regulations Regulation 4, National Regulations Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Regulation 4, National Regulations Regulation 4, National Regulations Regulation 4, National Regulations Section 5, National Law Regulation 10, National Regulations Regulation 12, National Regulations Regulation 11, National Regulations Regulation 13, National Regulations Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Regulation 4, National Regulations Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law Section 5, National Law TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 13
16 14 TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
17 Chapter 2: Approvals and certificates This chapter explains the process for obtaining approvals and Supervisor Certificates. The National Law determines three inter-related approval processes for entities and individuals: provider approval which is nationally recognised and enables providers to apply for one or more service approvals. service approval authorises an Approved Provider to operate an education and care service. The Approved Provider must nominate a person to be the Nominated Supervisor for each of their Approved Services. Supervisor Certificate allows individuals who hold a Supervisor Certificate to be eligible to be a Nominated Supervisor, or to be placed in day-to-day charge when the Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor is not physically present at the education and care service. Diagram 1: Provider Approval Service Approval Service Approval Nominated Supervisor (Supervisor Certificate) Other educators with a Supervisor Certificate Nominated Supervisor (Supervisor Certificate) Other educators with a Supervisor Certificate The National Law and National Regulations set out specific information required for each type of application. They also prescribe timeframes for Regulatory Authorities to make decisions and notify applicants of the outcome. All decisions made by Regulatory Authorities in relation to the approvals process are reviewable. An application for internal review must be made in writing to the Regulatory Authority within 14 days after notification of the decision. The Regulatory Authorities will assess applications to ensure that individuals, or in the case of an entity, persons with management or control, meet minimum requirements. Provider and service approvals and Supervisor Certificates are national and ongoing approvals. TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 15
18 Applications can be made through the national online application system. If an entity or individual is unable to access online application forms, they should contact the Regulatory Authority in their jurisdiction. Contact details for each Regulatory Authority are provided on page 165. Part 2.1 outlines the process for obtaining provider approval. Part 2.2 sets out matters related to service approval, including applications, amendments, suspension and cancellation, and waivers. Part 2.3 sets out matters related to Supervisor Certificates, including applications, amendments and placing a supervisor in day-to-day charge of an Approved Service. Part 2.1: Provider approvals A provider approval authorises a person to apply for one or more service approvals. Under the National Law, becoming an Approved Provider is a prerequisite to operating one or more Approved Services. Once granted, a provider approval is ongoing, unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. A provider approval is valid in all jurisdictions. This means that an Approved Provider will not have to apply for separate provider approval in each jurisdiction in which they operate an education and care service. Application for provider approval (one-off) $200 All fees are indexed annually on 1 July. The first indexation will occur on 1 July Application process For more information about fees, see Part 6.3: Fees National Law: Sections 10 16, 21, 43, 55, 291(5) National Regulations: Regulations This also relates to the National Quality Standard Element 7.1.5: Adults working with children and those engaged in management of the service or residing on the premises are fit and proper. The applicant must apply in the jurisdiction in which he or she usually lives (or in the case of an entity, the location of the entity s principal office). One or more persons may apply for a national provider approval. An Approved Provider can only apply for a service approval if it will operate the Approved Service or will be responsible for the management of staff members and the Nominated Supervisor at that service. State and territory Regulatory Authorities will assess and determine provider approvals. 16 TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
19 An application by an individual for a provider approval must include prescribed information, such as: The applicant s full name Residential address and contact details Date and place of birth Proof of identity Service statement Information about criminal history Disciplinary proceedings statement Bankruptcy declaration An application by a person other than an individual must include: All of the information detailed above for individual applicants The applicant s name and any trading or other name used Street address and postal address Contact person s name and details for the application Evidence of the legal status of the applicant A financial declaration An applicant must demonstrate, and continue to demonstrate, fitness and propriety to be involved in the provision of an education and care service. If the applicant is an entity, each person who will have management or control of an education and care service must demonstrate their fitness and propriety. In determining whether a person is fit and proper, a Regulatory Authority must have regard to: the applicant s history of compliance with any current or former education and care services law, children s service law or education law the applicant s checks under the jurisdiction s working with children law (if applicable) the applicant s criminal history any decision made under a former education and care services law, children s services law or education law of a participating jurisdiction to refuse, refuse to renew, suspend or cancel a licence, approval, registration or certification issued to the person under that law any bankruptcy or insolvency issues. If a person has been served with an infringement notice for an offence under the National Law, and the person has paid the penalty, a Regulatory Authority cannot take that offence into account when determining the person s fitness and propriety. TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 17
20 The applicant must submit a range of information or documentary evidence, including: proof of identity previous service statement working with children check or card or proof of teacher registration, if applicable criminal history statement, including overseas criminal history statement if the applicant lived overseas within the previous three years details of any disciplinary proceedings or bankruptcy. A previous service statement means a statement made by an individual that states whether they have had a role in an education and care service or a children s service in the previous three years, and if so, the name and location of the service and the individual s role with the service. (See regulation 4) A criminal history statement means a statement by an individual stating whether the individual has been convicted in Australia of any offences relevant to a person seeking to work with children, and details of any such convictions. If the applicant lived and worked overseas at any time within the previous three years, the applicant must also make an overseas criminal history statement. (See regulation 4) A disciplinary proceedings statement means a statement made by an individual that states whether the individual is or has been subject to a formal disciplinary action under an education law of a participating jurisdiction, and the outcome if known. (See regulation 4) If the applicant is an entity (for example, a company or incorporated association), the prescribed information must be provided for each person with management or control of the service. A person with management or control is defined as: in relation to a body corporate, an officer of the body corporate who is responsible for managing the delivery of the education and care service in relation to an eligible association, each member of the executive committee who has responsibility for managing the delivery of the education and care service in relation to a partnership, each partner who has responsibility for managing the delivery of the education and care service in any other case, each person who has the responsibility for managing the delivery of the education and care service. An entity must also submit documentary evidence of its legal status, such as a partnership agreement or registration of incorporation. 18 TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
21 The Regulatory Authority may ask for any other relevant information to assist in making a decision to grant provider approval, such as medical history or financial circumstances that may impact on the person s ability to operate a service. It may also seek information from another state or territory Regulatory Authority. Determining an application for provider approval National Law: Sections 15 16, 191 A Regulatory Authority must decide to grant or refuse an application for provider approval within 60 days after receiving the application or any further information requested. If the applicant agrees, an extension of up to 30 days can be approved. The Regulatory Authority may ask an applicant to provide any further information that is necessary to assess the application or undertake inquires in relation to a person. The Regulatory Authority must give the applicant written notice of a decision and the reasons for that decision within seven days after the decision is made. All decisions by Regulatory Authorities in relation to the approvals process are reviewable. An application for internal review must be made in writing to the Regulatory Authority within 14 days after notification of the decision. See Chapter 5: Review, enforcement and compliance for more information on how to apply for a review. An Approved Provider must notify certain circumstances to the Regulatory Authority, such as a change in the name of or contact details for the Approved Provider, or the appointment or removal of a person with management or control. See the table on page 112 for information that must be notified to the Regulatory Authority. Grant and issue of provider approval National Law: Sections 20, 172 National Regulations: Regulation 173 If granted, the Regulatory Authority must provide a copy of the provider approval to the Approved Provider. An Approved Provider is subject to a range of notification requirements which are set out on page 112. The Approved Provider must display certain information so it is visible in the main entrance of each service operated by the provider. TWO Guide to the National Law and National Regulations 19
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