Hundreds of Victorian childcare centres not meeting national standards
Hundreds of childcare centres and preschools across Victoria are failing to meet national standards, with one deemed so bad it was considered a “significant risk” to children’s safety and shut down. SEE HOW YOUR CENTRE FARED
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More than 600 Victorian childcare centres and preschools are not meeting National Quality Standards, latest data has revealed.
And while Early Childhood Australia says the figure should not be cause for alarm, the boom in childcare centres across the state means some have not been inspected by the Education Department since 2013.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority’s latest report reveals 623 centres have not achieved, but are “working towards”, the standard in one or more of seven categories including education, health and safety, or staffing.
Of the 3987 centres assessed across the state, 33 per cent rated “exceeding NQS” overall, 51 per cent were “meeting NQS” and 16 per cent were “working towards” the standard but needed to improve.
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The Royal Family Day Care was the only Victorian business to receive the worst overall rating of “significant improvement required” — a score which means a service poses a “significant risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of children”.
The Education Department shut down the Coolaroo centre in November 2017.
Nine Victorian providers were top of the class and received the highest overall rating of “excellent”.
These were Balnarring Preschool, Albert Park Preschool Centre, Clarendon Children’s Centre Co-op in South Melbourne, Wesley College Glen Waverley Early Childhood Learning Centre, Jindi Woraback Children’s Centre in St Albans, Bonkers Beat Music Kinder & Childcare Aspendale, Cambrian Preschool in West Melton, Doveton Early Learning Centre and Millville Childcare in Colac.
Early Childhood Australia Victorian branch president Marie Howard said Victorian centres generally rated very well and a number of newer centres could often receive a “working towards NQS” rating in their first assessment.
While some centres have not been evaluated since 2013, Ms Howard said the “exponential” growth of the industry had put pressure on the department, saying it prioritised working with lower-rating services to bring them up to standard.
She advised parents to visit childcare centres before signing up, to see for themselves the interactions between the staff and children.
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Education Department spokeswoman Linh Salisbury said Victoria had the equal highest proportion of early childhood services that were meeting or exceeding national quality standards.
“The overwhelming majority of Victoria’s kindergartens and childcare centres do a fantastic job offering quality early childhood education and care for children,” she said.
“Families expect the early childhood services their children attend meet minimum standards, which is why it’s so important that services are assessed against national quality standard.”
The Education Department assesses services in seven categories: educational program and practice; children’s health and safety; physical environment; staffing arrangements; relationships with children; collaborative partnerships with families and communities; and governance and leadership.
They receive a rating for each of these areas, which contributes to the overall rating.
Search the ratings for your local childcare centre here.