Hundreds of Victorian child cares and kindergartens below national minimum standards

Hundreds of Victorian childcare centres and kindergartens have not met the national minimum standards according to government inspectors. SEE HOW YOUR CENTRE RATES

Hundreds of Victorian childcare centres and kindergartens do not meet national minimum standards, with two rated a “significant risk” to children’s safety.

Hundreds of Victorian childcare centres do not meet the national quality standards and two have been declared a “significant risk” to children’s safety, the latest ratings reveal

According to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), more than 500 child care centres and kindergartens across the state have fallen short of the mark, with their report cards showing they were rated as “working towards the national quality standards”.

As of October, two Victorian centres had been given the lowest rating, which national guidelines say pose a “significant risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of children”.

The authority’s report revealed 554 centres had not achieved, but were “working towards”, the standard in one or more of seven categories, including education, health and safety or staffing.

Sunshine Family Day Care in Coolaroo and Cranbourne Christian Fellowship Centre/TurningPoint Family Church’s day care centre received the lowest rating of “significant improvement required”.

Some regional centres have not been assessed in more than five years, despite being categorised as “working towards the national quality standards”.

St John’s Parish OSHC in Numurkah failed to meet standards in four of the seven categories in 2014 but has not been assessed since then.

Forrest Learning Centre in Forrest also fell below the national minimum standard in 2014 but has not been reassessed in the past six years.

However, most centres which have not been assessed since 2013 and 2014 had exceeded expectations at that time.

An ACECQA spokesman said the focus had been on re-evaluating and bringing others up to standard.

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