The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is an independent national authority that assists governments in administering the National Quality Framework (NQF) for children’s education and care. ACECQA provides guidance, resources and services to support the sector to improve outcomes for children.
ACECQA works with the Australian and state and territory governments to:
- implement changes that benefit children birth to 13 years of age and their families
- monitor and promote the consistent application of the Education and Care Services National Law across all states and territories
- support the children’s education and care sector to improve quality outcomes for children
The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high national benchmark for early childhood and school-age education and care services in Australia. The NQS includes 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children.
Services are assessed and rated by their state or territory regulatory authority against the NQS, and given a quality rating for each of the 7 quality areas and an overall rating based on these results.
The Early Childhood Education Toolkit can help children’s education and care services consider the evidence on approaches across the 7 quality areas in the NQS. Use the links below to access the Toolkit approaches mapped to each quality area.
Communication and language approaches
Very high impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
Early literacy approaches
Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Early numeracy approaches
Very high impact for very low cost based on limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
Parental engagement
High impact for low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Physical development approaches
High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Play-based learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Self-regulation strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Social and emotional learning strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Extra hours
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Parental engagement
High impact for low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Physical development approaches
High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Self-regulation strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Social and emotional learning strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Physical development approaches
High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Play-based learning
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Social and emotional learning strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Earlier starting age
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Extra hours
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Parental engagement
High impact for low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Social and emotional learning strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Communication and language approaches
Very high impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+7
Extra hours
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Parental engagement
High impact for low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Self-regulation strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Social and emotional learning strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Extra hours
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Parental engagement
High impact for low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Social and emotional learning strategies
Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Earlier starting age
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+3
Extra hours
Moderate impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+4
Parental engagement
High impact for low cost based on extensive evidence
Cost
Evidence
Impact (months)
+5
Early Childhood Education Toolkit
An accessible summary of educational research for early childhood education
Aligned evidence
Toolkit approaches aligned with school improvement frameworks.
Using the Toolkits
Guide to using our Teaching and Learning Toolkit and Early Childhood Education Toolkit.