Understanding National Legislation in Early Childhood

This article provides an overview of the national legislation and regulations that cover issues related to early childhood education and care services in Australia. It explains the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations, and how they set the standard for the education and care of children in all the nation. The article also discusses the impact of these legislations on work practices in early childhood settings and policy development and implementation.

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Understanding National Legislation in Early Childhood
Student’s Name
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Overview of what the Legislations Covers
National Law
• The national law incorporates two
legislations and laws that cover issues that
are related to children education. There is
the Education and Care Services National
Law and the Education and Care Services
National Regulations.
• The law sets the standard for the education
of children and their care in all the nation
and the institutions that are concerned
(Fenech, Giugni & Bown, 2012). In each
state, the law is applicable but it may vary
regarding provisions and as each state may
have different needs.
Education and Care Services National Regulations
• This contains the information regarding the
process that the applicants follow for them
to be granted the license to offer services.
Besides that, it provides the scale for rating
those applicants and service providers.
• It provides the required minimum limit that
the operators of education and the care
services for children must have. Also, it
shows the seven areas of quality to be
checked in the care service providers for the
children.
• The legislation also provides the
requirements that are necessary and
agreeable for the staff members and their
appropriate qualifications. It also sets the
fees that should be charged for each of the
transactions involved.
• It also has the requirements based on each
jurisdiction and the specific provisions for
the same. Also, it contains the right process
for rating and assessing the service providers
which is consistent with the national quality
standards.
National Quality Framework (NQF)
• This is the legislation which was introduced
sometime in the year 2012 and was
supposed to improve education and care in
all daycares, and the days cares for families,

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kindergartens and all care providers who
offer services out of school.
• It consists of four essential components
which are the National Law and National
Regulations, National Quality Standard,
assessment and quality rating process,
national learning frameworks (Australia,
2012). These are responsible for helping in
the shaping of the children’s future through
the provision of a foundation that helps them
in learning and also development.
• Besides that, it offers parents the required
and necessary information that related to the
early education for the children and the care
which is needed for helping them make the
best decision for their children and the
family.
The Australian Children’s Education & Care
Quality Authority (ACECQA)
• The ACECQA works with all relevant
governments so that it can offer the needed
guidance, the resources necessary and the
services that are essential in supporting the
improved chances in the outcome of
children.
• It mostly assists all the respective
government bodies in the implementation of
the National Quality Framework for the
education and needs that revolve around
children.
• It works with the national and all state
governments in the implementation of the
NQF for all children between 0-13 years of
age (Fenech et al., 2012). It also helps in the
monitoring and the application of the
Education and Care Services National Law
throughout all the states in Australia.
Impact of the Legislations on Work Practices in
Early Childhood Settings
• The safety of the children in the care
services has been improved drastically, and
there are very few or minimal cases of harm
to the children (National Quality Standard.
n.d.).

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• It’s also easy for the care and service
providers to identify safety hazards in their
place of work and make preventive
measures where necessary.
• It has prompted for increased daily checks
regarding safety and also the outdoor
environment has been improved to minimize
safety hazards.
• The employees are continually being trained
in matters relating to work, health and the
safety of the workplace (Tayler, Ishimine,
Cloney, Cleveland & Thorpe, 2013). The
training includes things like the emergency
procedures and the systems that make work
safe for the children.
• Also, the needs of the children are being met
on a regular basis, and they are continually
being listened to by the service providers
and the care services.
Impact of the Legislation on Policy Development
and Implementation
• The regulations have helped in approving
those responsible for providing and working
with children (ACECQA. n.d.). They are
now more familiar with the law and what is
required of them by the regulations and the
law.
• Also, it has helped the nation and the states
in the setting of the requirements for
operating for the education and care
providers. Besides that, the regulations have
contributed to the many amendments made
to the laws concerning Early Childhood
Education and Care in Australia. For
example, they contributed to the government
stopping the care services in homes and
shopping malls. Also, there are the
introduction mobile services when doing the
assessment of quality and rating the care and
education providers (Amendment of the
Children (Education and Care Services)
Supplementary Provisions Act 2011 |
Operating an early childhood education
service. n.d.).

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References
ACECQA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.acecqa.gov.au/
Amendment of the Children (Education and Care Services) Supplementary Provisions Act 2011 | Operating an
early childhood education service. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-
education/operating-an-early-childhood-education-service/regulation-assessment-and-rating/regulatory-
framework/amendment-of-the-children-education-and-care-services-supplementary-provisions-act-2011
Australia, W. (2012). Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012. Western Australia:
Government Printer.
Fenech, M., Giugni, M., & Bown, K. (2012). A critical analysis of the'national quality framework': Mobilising
for a vision for children beyond minimum standards. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 37(4), 5.
National Quality Standard. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/national-quality-standard
Tayler, C., Ishimine, K., Cloney, D., Cleveland, G., & Thorpe, K. (2013). The quality of early childhood
education and care services in Australia. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 38(2), 13.