National Quality Framework
Educator to child ratios
Podcast Series: 1
February 2012
Presentation overview
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Overview of educator to child ratios
Key changes for services
Mixed aged group ratios
Excursions
Conclusion
Resources
Video
1. Overview of ratios
What has changed?
• First increase to ratios occurring in 2016
• Calculated across the service
• Based on all children under one Service Approval
regardless of room or building configuration
• All educators must hold (or be studying towards) at a
minimum a Certificate III qualification; and
• The first of every two educators must hold (or be
studying towards) a Diploma qualification or above
0-24 mths
25-35 mths
36 mths-school age
Educators
2
2
2
Children
8
12
24
Child Care Act 2002
(Determined by individual rooms)
Educators
Children
6
44
National Quality Framework
(Across the service – under one Service Approval)
1. Overview of ratios
Considerations in determining staffing
• Minimum educator to child ratios are maintained at all
times (section 123)
• Only educators working directly with children are
included in the ratio (section 122)
• Adequate supervision is maintained at all times
(section 120)
• The education, health, safety and wellbeing of children
are paramount
• Outcomes for children – develop relationships with
other children and adults (section 155 – 156)
2. Key changes for services
2012 – 2015
RATIO
2016 – 2017
RATIO
0-24 mths
1:4
0-24 mths
1:4
15-24 mths*
1:5
15-24 mths*
1:5
>24-35 mths
1:6
>30-35 mths
1:8
>24-35 mths
3 yrs <7 yrs
1:12
4 yrs <7 yrs
1:13
36 mths
<school age
4 yrs <14 yrs
1:12
School age**
1:15
Family Day Care
***
1:7
School age**
Family Day Care
****
1 JAN 2018+
RATIO
0-24 mths
1:4
1:5
>24-35 mths
1:5
1:11
36 mths
<school age
1:11
School age**
1:15
Family Day Care
****
1:7
1:15
1:7
‘<‘ means less than and ‘>’ means more than
* Eligible services need to apply to continue using 1:5 ratio from 2012 until 2018
** Means a child enrolled in schooling (Prep onwards) and attending anytime the same calendar year
*** From 2012, the 1:7 ratio cannot include more than four children preschool age or under.
****Includes an educator's own children under school age until 2015 and then all children less than 13 years of age from 2016.
3. Mixed age group ratios
What has changed?
• 1:7 mixed age group ratio no longer exists
• For mixed groups, the relevant ratio for each age group
needs to be maintained
How does this work?
• The ratio of the youngest child in each educator’s
care applies
• Older children can be included in the ratio of younger
children as long as the ratio of the youngest child is
not exceeded
4. Excursions
• There is no explicit ratio for excursions, however
minimum ratios cannot be exceeded
• Prepare a risk assessment and seek authorisation
from parents (Section 100 – 102)
• Only an initial risk assessment is required for regular
outings unless circumstances change (more than
annual)
• Movement to other areas in a school is not an
excursion
5. Conclusion
Things to consider
• Impact on the quality of the program for each child
• Each of the seven quality areas of the National
Quality Standard and desired quality ratings
• Ratios are minimum requirements
• Use professional judgement
• Ensure adequate supervision at all times
6. Resources
1
Guide to the
National Quality
Framework
Australian Children’s
Education and Care Quality
Authority (ACECQA)
www.acecqa.gov.au
Guide to the
National Law
and National
Regulations
2
Page 173 for
Risk Assessment Template
3
Guide to the
National Quality
Standard
Department of Education
and Training
www.det.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood
Fact Sheets
Regional
Officers
Website
Thank you
VIDEO
Click on the
symbol
on the lower right of the screen for a
demonstration on
mixed age group ratios