National Quality Framework

What is the National Quality Framework?

The National Quality Framework (NQF) is Australia’s system for ensuring children receive safe, high-quality education and care in approved early learning services. It brings together laws, regulations, learning frameworks and quality expectations into one consistent national approach. For parents, this means greater transparency, stronger safeguards and a clearer understanding of what quality looks like in practice — no matter where you live or which type of care you choose.

The NQF applies to long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten programs delivered through childcare services, and outside school hours care. Its aim is to support children’s wellbeing, development and learning through environments that are nurturing, consistent, inclusive and professionally led.

Child Care Guide Tip: Child Care Guide offer a complete guide to the National Quality Framework.

Why the National Quality Framework Matters for Families

Choosing childcare can feel overwhelming because so much depends on trust. The National Quality Framework gives families confidence by setting clear expectations for service providers and holding them accountable for delivering quality education and care.

For parents, the NQF matters because it:

protects children’s safety and wellbeing
supports consistent, high-quality learning programs
requires qualified and capable educators
ensures continuous improvement through assessment and ratings
makes quality visible and comparable between services

Instead of relying on guesswork, families can look to the NQF for reassurance that approved services are meeting the standards children deserve.

What the National Quality Framework Covers

The National Quality Framework is made up of several connected parts that work together to guide how services operate, how educators teach and how quality is monitored.

Education and Care Law and Regulations
These set the legal requirements for safety, staffing, environments, health practices, educator qualifications and governance.

Approved Learning Frameworks
The NQF requires services to base their programs on nationally approved frameworks, such as the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) or My Time, Our Place for school-aged care.

National Quality Standard (NQS)
This is the benchmark used to assess service quality across seven key areas, including relationships, learning programs, leadership and physical environments.

Assessment and Rating
Every approved service is assessed and given a public rating so families can see how it performs against the national standard.

Together, these elements ensure that quality is not optional, accidental or inconsistent — it is embedded in law, practice and accountability.

How the National Quality Framework Supports Children’s Learning and Wellbeing

The NQF recognises that the early years shape a child’s future. By setting expectations around relationships, environments, teaching practices, health and safety, leadership and educator training, it creates the conditions children need to thrive.

Under the NQF, children benefit from:

emotionally secure environments built through warm, respectful relationships
play-based learning that reflects their interests, culture and developmental stage
safe, well-designed spaces that support exploration and confidence
educators who are qualified, reflective and committed to improvement
programs that value identity, wellbeing, communication and belonging

For families, this means confidence that your child is not only cared for, but truly supported to learn, grow and flourish.

The NQF and the Learning Frameworks (EYLF and MTOP)

The NQF requires services to use approved learning frameworks that guide curriculum and teaching decisions. In early childhood settings, this is usually the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). In outside school hours care, it is My Time, Our Place (MTOP).

These frameworks shape what children learn and how learning is supported, while the NQF ensures the overall quality of the environment in which that learning occurs. In other words:

The EYLF and MTOP guide the educational program
The NQF ensures the conditions for quality are in place

This alignment helps children experience meaningful, engaging and developmentally appropriate learning across their early years.

The NQF and the National Quality Standard (NQS)

The National Quality Standard sits within the NQF and focuses on the key areas of quality that matter most for children. The NQS is the tool assessors use to rate services, and it guides educators in building strong programs, relationships and environments.

While the NQF is the system, the NQS is the measuring stick. When a service is rated “Meeting” or “Exceeding,” it indicates they are delivering quality that aligns with national expectations — giving families confidence in their choice.

What Parents Can Expect Under the National Quality Framework

Families should notice the impact of the NQF in everyday practice. In services that follow the framework well, you will typically see:

caring, responsive interactions with children
environments that are calm, engaging and well supervised
programs that reflect children’s interests and culture
consistent routines that help children feel secure
professional communication with families
clear policies, transparent fees and accountable leadership

These are the hallmarks of a quality service operating under the NQF.

How the NQF Drives Quality Improvement

The National Quality Framework is built on the idea that quality is not a one-time achievement, but an ongoing commitment. Services are required to reflect on their practices, review their policies and strive for improvement over time. This continuous improvement cycle is supported through:

Assessment and Rating
Regulatory authorities assess each service against the National Quality Standard and publish the rating, giving families transparency and encouraging services to raise their quality over time.

Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs)
Every service must document its strengths, outline goals and track progress through a Quality Improvement Plan. Families can request to view the QIP, making quality improvement open, visible and accountable.

Professional Learning and Leadership
The NQF promotes educator development, leadership and reflection. Strong leadership is seen as essential to high-quality programs and positive outcomes for children.

This focus on improvement means services are not only meeting standards today — they are challenged to keep growing and evolving.

How Parents Can Use the NQF When Choosing a Service

The NQF gives families practical tools for making informed decisions. When comparing early learning services, parents can:

Check the service’s NQS rating to understand how it performs across the seven quality areas
Ask to view the Quality Improvement Plan for insight into the service’s goals and priorities
Observe practice during a tour — warm relationships, calm environments and thoughtful learning experiences are strong indicators of quality
Discuss what learning looks like under the EYLF or MTOP, and how educators support each child’s development

By using the NQF as a guide, families can look past marketing language and focus on what truly matters: relationships, safety, teaching quality and leadership.

Cultural Inclusion, Equity and Children’s Rights

The National Quality Framework emphasises that quality must be equitable, inclusive and respectful. Children thrive when their identity, culture, language and strengths are acknowledged and embraced. Under the NQF, services are expected to:

create inclusive environments for every child
embed cultural responsiveness, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
support children with additional needs early and collaboratively
work in genuine partnership with families

This ensures that all children — regardless of background — experience a strong sense of belonging and equitable access to learning.

National Quality Framework – FAQs

Q: What is the National Quality Framework?
A: The NQF is Australia’s system for regulating and improving the quality of early learning services. It includes laws, regulations, learning frameworks and the National Quality Standard.

Q: Does the NQF apply to all services?
A: It applies to most approved early learning settings, including long day care, family day care, preschool programs in centres and outside school hours care.

Q: What is the difference between the NQF and NQS?
A: The NQF is the overall system; the National Quality Standard (NQS) is the tool used to measure and rate service quality under that system.

Q: How do I find a service’s rating?
A: Ratings are published by regulatory authorities and can be accessed online or requested directly from the service.

Q: What is a Quality Improvement Plan?
A: A Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) outlines a service’s goals, progress and areas for development. Families can ask to view it.

Q: How does the NQF support my child?
A: By setting clear expectations for safety, learning, wellbeing and inclusion, and ensuring educators are qualified, reflective and accountable.

Final Summary

The National Quality Framework gives families confidence and children a strong foundation. By bringing regulation, learning frameworks and quality assessment together, the NQF ensures that early learning is not only safe, but meaningful, consistent and nurturing. When families understand the NQF, they gain the tools to choose services that align with their values and support their child’s wellbeing, identity and potential.