Victoria’s best and worst childcare centres
Hundreds of childcare centres and preschools across Victoria are not meeting national standards, with one rated a “significant risk” to children’s safety continuing to operate. SEE HOW YOUR CENTRE FARED
South East
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More than 500 Victorian childcare centres and preschools are not meeting national quality standards – and some have not been assessed since 2013 – latest data reveals.
And one day care centre continues to operate despite receiving the lowest possible rating, which national guidelines say pose a “significant risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of children”.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority’s (ACECQA) report for the latest quarter revealed 588 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 4025 centres assessed across the state, 31 per cent rated “exceeding National Quality Standards (NQS)”, 53 per cent were “meeting NQS” and 16 per cent were “working towards” the standard but needed to improve.
Cranbourne Christian Fellowship Centre/Turning Point Church’s day care centre was the only Victorian business to receive the lowest overall rating “significant improvement required”.
The centre is still operating, but did not respond to Leader’s questions before deadline.
The Education Department is working with the centre to bring it into compliance with the national law.
While some centres haven’t been assessed since 2013 and 2014, the majority of those had exceeded expectations and the focus was on re-evaluating and bringing others up to standard.
Early Learning Association of Australia chief executive David Worland said Victoria “had a really strong focus on improving quality in this area”.
“The number of centres still working towards the standards is decreasing over time and they will usually have a strong action plan put in place for areas needing attention,” he said.
Ten Victorian childcare and kinder providers were deemed top of the class, receiving the sought-after “excellent”overall rating.
>> SEE THE FULL LIST BELOW
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Doveton College acting principal Debra Gibson said their early learning centre’s commitment to nurturing strong relationships with families and focusing on each child’s individual needs was their secret to success.
She said staff had continued to engage children at home during coronavirus restrictions through video conferences, along with filming themselves reading stories and singing songs.
“We’ve had a lot of great feedback from families about the videos during this time,” Ms Gibson said.
State Education Department spokeswoman Linh Salisbury said 85 per cent of Victorian services were meeting or exceeding the quality standards – well above the national average of 80 per cent.
“The overwhelming majority of Victoria’s early childhood services do a fantastic job offering quality education and care for children. In particular, they are doing an outstanding job supporting children and their families through the coronavirus pandemic,” she said.
“The safety and wellbeing of children is the department’s top priority as we work closely with early childhood services to ensure that they continue to lift the quality of their education and care.”
You can check the ratings for your local centres here.