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.
95% of Queensland services assessed and rated compared with
94% 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 Q2, 2025–26 FY. Figures for earlier quarters are provided for comparison.
| Full assessment and rating | 44 | 31 | 134 | -67.2% |
Partial assessment and rating
| 219 | 146 | 129 | +69.8% |
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 outcomes of first tier reviews in Q2, 2025–26 FY. Figures for earlier quarters are provided for comparison.
| Change to overall rating | 0 | 1 | 1 | -100.0% |
No change to overall rating
| 2 | 7 | 1 | +100.0% |
95% of Queensland services have a quality rating compared with 94% nationally.
79% of re-assessments show sustained or improved service quality*.
2.9% increase in the number of services meeting or exceeding the NQS since 31 December 2024.
90% of Queensland services are meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard, compared with
92% nationally.
*Based on the quality rating of ECEC services before and after re-assessment for all re-assessments completed as at 31 December 2025.
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 31 December 2025 (Q2, 2025–26 FY). Figures for earlier quarters are provided for comparison.
| Family day care | 67.1% | 68.1% | 68.4% | -1.3 |
| Kindergarten | 96.1% | 95.9% | 95.0% | +1.1 |
| Long day care | 90.7% | 90.1% | 89.8% | +0.9 |
| Outside school hours care | 85.8% | 85.4% | 85.4% | +0.4 |
Number and percentage of services by quality rating
The table below shows the number and percentage of ECEC services by quality rating as at 31 December 2025 (Q2, 2025–26). Figures for earlier quarters are provided for comparison.
| Excellent | 6 | 0.2% | 6 | 0.2% | 8 | 0.3% | 0.0 |
| Exceeding the NQS | 479 | 15.2% | 485 | 15.4% | 532 | 17.2% | -2.0 |
| Meeting the NQS | 2,352 | 74.4% | 2,315 | 73.6% | 2,218 | 71.6% | +2.8 |
| Working towards the NQS | 324 | 10.2% | 337 | 10.7% | 340 | 11.0% | -0.8 |
| Significant improvement required | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0 |
|
Total |
3,161 |
100.0% |
3,144 |
100.0% |
3,098 |
100.0% |
N/A |
Percentage of services meeting or exceeding the NQS according to quality area
Educational program and practice:
93%
Children's health and safety:
96%
Physical environment:
97%
Staffing arrangements:
99%
Relationships with children:
98%
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities:
98%
Governance and leadership:
93%