Childcare crisis: Quarter of Sydney’s most costly centres fail to meet quality standards

A QUARTER of Sydney’s costliest childcare centres don’t meet national quality standards, despite slugging parents with fee increases six times higher than inflation.

Significant improvement required: Hiba childcare centre in Merrylands.

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A QUARTER of Sydney’s costliest childcare centres don’t meet national quality standards, despite slugging parents with fee increases six times higher than inflation.

Seventy of the 286 daycare, preschool, after-school and vacation care centres within 5km of the CBD fall short of tough standards imposed four years ago, a Saturday Telegraph investigation can reveal.

Three inner-city centres flunked all seven categories assessed by childcare inspectors — and 15 others were below standard in the crucial areas of children’s health and safety, physical environment and educational programs.

Excellent rating: Hannah 4, and Ivy, 5, have a laugh at KU Corrimal East Pre-school, near Wollongong. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham yesterday demanded the NSW Government do more to make centres comply with the quality controls, which are driving up the cost of childcare for working parents. “Australians families reasonably expect that the centre their child attends meets nationally agreed standards,” he said.

Childcare fees across Sydney have soared at least 6 per cent a year since the federal, state and territory governments set the tough national standards in 2012.

One in three of the 3917 centres inspected in NSW so far has failed to meet the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) standards — resulting in a “working towards’’ rating. Only 38 per cent meet the basic standards, one in four exceeds them and just 10 centres — including the KU Corrimal East Preschool north of Wollongong — are rated “excellent’’.

Exceeding national standards: Paddington Childrens Centre.

Eight centres have the lowest rating of “significant improvement required’’ — including the Hiba Childcare Centre in Merrylands.

The centre’s owner, Muhammad Youssuf Muhammad, told The Saturday Telegraph he was too busy to talk as Education Department childcare inspectors were in his office to inspect the centre.

Inspectors leave Hiba Childcare Centre in Merrylands yesterday.

An Education Department spokeswoman refused to comment on the swoop but said all eight substandard centres were “currently under intense regulatory action’’.

“Any service found to require significant improvement, or where there is an unacceptable risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of children, is subject to immediate action by the department,’’ she said.

Meeting national standards: Thumbelina Edgecliff daycare centre.

NSW’s pass rate is much lower than Victoria’s — where only 20 per cent of centres are ranked as “working towards’’, or Queensland, where 25 per cent are below standard.

Child Care NSW president Nesha Hutchinson said NSW had taken a “hard-line’’ approach compared with other states that gave centres time to fix problems before rating them.

“NSW has a tougher approach, and people who were achieving ‘high quality’ under the old (NSW) standard could potentially only be ‘working towards’ meeting the new national standard,’’ she said.

“There’s not been an opportunity for centres to be reassessed so whatever rating you got in 2013, you’re stuck with.’’

Senator Birmingham said he had written to Early Childhood Education Minister Leslie Williams urging her to “do more’’ to ensure centres complied with standards.

“The states and territories are the gate keepers and once a provider is approved, the Commonwealth has limited grounds for not approving fee assistance for hard-working Australian families,’’ he said.

Working towards meeting national standards: Centennial Park Early Learning Centre. Picture: John Appleyard

Ms Williams said a “working towards” rating was not a failure. “Services are able to operate when they receive a ‘working towards’ rating because the intent of the National Quality framework is to allow for continuous improvement towards a very high standard.’’

The Centennial Park Early Learning Centre received a “working towards’’ rating in all seven areas assessed in 2013.

Centre director Lauren Buellesbach said she was not in charge of the centre at the time, but “considerable improvement has been made and a dedication to the quality improvement process is embedded in our practices”.

ACECQA general manager Michael Petrie said a “working towards’’ rating “doesn’t in any way place risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of children’’.

Early Childhood Australia chief executive Diane Lawson said all centres should aim to “put children first’’.

HOW CENTRES ARE GRADED

1. Educational Program and Practice

Children are supported to participate in play and learning.

2. Children’s Health and Safety

Children are protected from illness and from hazards.

3. Physical Environment

Children play in a safe and well-maintained environment.

4. Staffing Arrangements

There are enough qualified staff to give your child the attention they need.

5. Relationships with Children

Children are made to feel supported and welcomed.

6. Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities

Local community involvement and respect and inclusion of all beliefs and values.

7. Leadership and Service Management

Children are cared for in a positive and well- managed environment.

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