How Childcare Ratings Work in Australia
Understanding NQS ratings helps you make a more informed comparison when choosing childcare.
The National Quality Standard (NQS)
The NQS is the benchmark used by Australian governments to assess all approved childcare and early education services. Assessments are conducted by state and territory regulatory authorities, and results are published on the ACECQA National Register.
The seven quality areas
- Educational program and practice — quality of the curriculum and how educators support children's learning
- Children's health and safety — procedures for keeping children healthy and safe
- Physical environment — indoor and outdoor spaces, facilities and resources
- Staffing arrangements — qualifications, ratios and professional development
- Relationships with children — how educators interact with and support children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities — how families are informed and involved
- Governance and leadership — management, policies and continuous improvement
Rating levels explained
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| Excellent | The highest rating, awarded by ACECQA on application. Very few services hold this rating. |
| Exceeding NQS | Goes above and beyond the minimum standard in most or all quality areas. A strong indicator of quality. |
| Meeting NQS | Meets all minimum standards. The majority of approved services fall into this category. |
| Working Towards NQS | Does not yet meet all standards. Services have an improvement plan in place and are assessed more frequently. |
| Significant Improvement Required | Serious concerns identified. Regulators actively monitor the service. |
How we display ratings on this directory
Where NQS ratings are available, we display them as reported on the ACECQA National Register or from the provider. Ratings may not always be current — assessments happen every one to three years, and a service's rating can change.
We also show KindiCare review scores on some listings. These are a third-party measure based on parent reviews and publicly available data, not an official government assessment. They are labelled clearly as external ratings.
Always verify the current NQS rating directly on the ACECQA website or by asking the provider.
Frequently asked questions
How often are services assessed?
Services rated "Exceeding NQS" or "Meeting NQS" are typically assessed every three years. Services rated "Working Towards NQS" are assessed annually. New services are assessed within their first year of operation.
Can a rating change?
Yes. A service's quality can improve or decline between assessments. A high historical rating is not a guarantee of current quality. If you have concerns, look at the most recent assessment report on the ACECQA register.
Where do I find the official rating?
Search for any approved childcare or education service at acecqa.gov.au/resources/national-registers.