Which services are assessed and rated
All early childhood services regulated under the National Quality Framework (NQF) are assessed and rated.
This includes the following services:
- long day care
- standalone kindergarten
- family day care (FDC)
- Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and vacation care.
It does not apply to occasional care and limited hours services regulated under the Victorian Children’s Services Act.
Assessment and rating process
Services are assessed against the National Quality Standard (NQS).
The service is:
- rated against each of the 7 quality areas
- given an overall rating based on the results
- sent an assessment and rating report.
Final ratings are published on the national registers.
What the process involves
Assessments and ratings are carried out by authorised officers from the Regulatory Authority in each state. In Victoria the regulatory authority is the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA). This follows a national uniform process.
The assessment and rating process:
- is conducted 12–18 months after a new service begins operating, and regularly after that
- combines quality assurance and regulatory compliance
- gives services the opportunity to demonstrate their qualities, strengths and areas of improvement.
More information on the process
ACECQA’s Guide to the NQF: Section 3 has detailed information on the assessment and rating process.
This includes:
- a high level summary of the process
- Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) and the self-assessment tool
- self-assessment and quality improvement planning, including a link to ACECQA's self-assessment tool (see also Quality Improvement Plan)
- the rating system, including what each rating means
- steps in the process, including the duration of visits
- how visits are conducted and how rating levels are determined
- making minor adjustments
- draft assessment and rating report, and how to give feedback (PDF, 127KB)
- review of final ratings
- re-assessment and rating report.
Assessment and rating report
We will send a draft assessment and rating report approximately 3–5 weeks after the visit.
For further information, read ACECQA’s information sheets:
- the assessment and rating report
- using your assessment and rating report to support quality improvement (PDF, 141KB).
How to provide feedback on the draft report
Services have 10 working days to submit feedback on the draft report.
Any supporting evidence must be sent using the NQA ITS portal against the ASR report.
You can only provide feedback on factual errors. Do not include new information.
For further advice, see: ACECQA’s assessment and rating report information sheet.
How to apply for a review of final ratings
Approved providers can apply for a review of the final rating received by their service.
First tier review
You can submit your application to us using the NQA ITS system.
This must be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the final assessment and rating report.
No fees apply.
Second tier review
You can apply to ACECQA after your first tier review has been completed.
This must be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the outcome on the first tier review.
The prescribed fee must be sent with your application.
For more information, see: review of ratings.
How to apply for reassessment and re-rating
Services can apply to us for a reassessment and re-rating of their service using NQA ITS.
A fee applies, and an application for reassessment can only be made once every 2 years.
For more information, read: reassessment and re-rating process.
More information
- Starting blocks – information for families on the assessment and rating process
- Making quality assessment and rating more effective – ACECQA information sheet
- Assessment and rating materials, including posters
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