Service assessment and rating
The Regulatory Authority
assesses and rates National Quality Framework (NQF) services against the National Quality Standard (NQS), comprising 7 quality areas focusing on important outcomes for children. Services can receive 1 of 5 possible ratings:
- Excellent (awarded by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority)
- Exceeding the NQS
- Meeting the NQS
- Working Towards the NQS
- Significant improvement required.
93% of Queensland services assessed and rated compared with
92% nationally*.
*For the latest national assessment and ratings data, visit the
NQF Snapshot webpage.
NQF services assessed and rated
The table below shows the number and type of assessment and ratings completed by the Regulatory Authority in Q1, 2024–25 FY. Figures are provided for earlier quarters for comparison.
| Full assessment and rating | 74 | 187 | 99 | -25.3% |
| Partial assessment and rating | 26 | 40 | 7 | +271.4% |
NQF services applying for first tier review of an assessment and rating decision
In a small number of cases, approved providers choose to apply for a first tier review of a quality rating issued by the Regulatory Authority.
The table below shows the number of applications for first tier review received by the Regulatory Authority in Q1, 2024–25 FY and their outcome. Figures are provided for earlier quarters for comparison.
| Change to overall rating | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.0% |
| No change to overall rating | 8 | 5 | 2 | +300.0% |
| Decision pending | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
93% of Queensland services have a quality rating compared with 92% nationally.
78% of services sustained or improved their quality rating at their next assessment*.
0.9% increase increase in the number of services meeting or exceeding the NQS since 30 September 2023.
90% of Queensland services are meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard, compared with 91% nationally.
*Based on the current and previous quality rating of approved ECEC services in Queensland as at 30 September 2024.
Percentage of services meeting or exceeding the NQS
The table below shows the percentage of ECEC services that have a current quality rating of either Meeting the NQS, Exceeding the NQS or Excellent as at 30 September 2024 (Q1, 2024–25 FY). Figures are provided for earlier quarters for comparison.
| Long day care | 90.5% | 90.7% | 91.3% | -0.8 |
| Outside school hours care | 86.0% | 86.5% | 86.6% | -0.6 |
| Kindergarten | 95.2% | 94.8% | 95.3% | -0.1 |
| Family day care | 67.1% | 66.7% | 64.8% | +2.3 |
Number and percentage of services by quality rating
The table below shows the number and percentage of ECEC services by quality rating as at 30 September 2024 (Q1, 2024–25). Figures are provided for earlier quarters for comparison.
| Excellent | 7 | 0.2% | 9 | 0.3% | 7 | 0.2% | 0.0 |
| Exceeding the NQS | 564 | 18.4% | 578 | 18.9% | 677 | 22.4% | -4.0
|
| Meeting the NQS | 2,171 | 70.9% | 2,157 | 70.5% | 2,033 | 67.3% | +3.6 |
| Working towards the NQS | 320 | 10.5% | 316 | 10.3% | 302 | 10.0% | +0.5 |
| Significant improvement required | | | | | 1 | 0.0% | 0.0 |
Percentage of services meeting or exceeding the NQS according to quality area
Educational program and practice:
92%
Children's health and safety:
95%
Physical environment:
96%
Staffing arrangements:
98%
Relationships with children:
97%
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities:
97%
Governance and leadership:
93%