NT childcare centres fall below par

Fifty-five per cent of day cares in the Northern Territory are providing a quality education but have areas to improve in

Fewer than one in three Territory childcares meet or exceed the national framework. PICTURE: iStock

FEWER than one in three Northern Territory day cares are meeting or exceeding the National Quality Framework, according to a national report.

The extensive Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority report, however, found 55 per cent of our day cares are providing a “quality education” but have areas to improve in.

A further 30 per cent of child care services are meeting the National Quality Framework and 14 per cent are exceeding it.

Only two have been awarded the coveted excellent rating.

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority found 202 day cares in the Territory have a satisfactory rating. A further 17 day care are awaiting approvals.

No childcare service has been shut down.

The 111 child care services rated as ‘Working Towards Their NQF’ have one or more areas identified for improvement.

The areas assessed include, educational program and practise, children’s health and safety, physical environment, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, partnerships with families and communities and leadership and service management.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said since the national standards had been put in place in 2012 there had been improvements across the boar. She said the framework was an opportunity for centres to set goals and work towards improving year on year.

One of only two recipients of the ‘excellent’ rating is Kentish Lifelong Learning and Care.

They were given the award in 2014 and have retained is ever since.

Kentish director Sarah Fowler said the rating was the result of a lot of hard work.

They tailored their program to include cultural activities.

Kentish have also been awarded, for the fourth year running the Northern Territory’s best family day care service in the 2016 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.