What is the Quality Improvement & Accreditation System?

The broad objective of the CCQA system is to ensure that children in care have stimulating, positive experiences and interactions that nurture all aspects of their development. The CCQA system does this by defining quality child care, providing a way to measure the quality of care provided by the service and identifying areas for ongoing quality improvement.

While there are voluntary accreditation systems for children's services in other countries, the Australian system is unique as this is the first CCQA systems in the world to be linked to child care funding through legislation and to be funded and supported by a Federal Government.

The 7 Quality Areas of QIAS

1. Staff Relationships with children and peers
   Principle 1.1: Staff interact with each child in a warm and friendly way
   Principle 1.2: Staff guide each child's behaviour in a positive way
   Principle 1.3: Staff initiate and maintain respectful communication with each child
   Principle 1.4: Staff respect each child's background and abilities
   Principle 1.5: Staff treat all children equitably
   Principle 1.6: Staff communicate effectively to promote respect and professional teamwork

2. Partnerships with Families
   Principle 2.1: Staff and families communicate effectively to exchange information about each child and the centre
   Principle 2.2: Staff encourage family participation and involvement in the centre
   Principle 2.3: The centre has orientation processes for children and families

3. Programming and Evaluation
   Principle 3.1: The program reflects a clear statement of centre philosophy
   Principle 3.2: Each child's learning is documented and is used in planning the program
   Principle 3.3: The program assists each child to be a successful learner

4. Children’s Experiences and Learning
   Principle 4.1: Staff encourage each child to make choices and participate in play
   Principle 4.2: Staff promote each child's ability to develop and maintain relationships
   Principle 4.3: Staff promote each child's language and literacy abilities
   Principle 4.4: Staff promote each child's problem solving and mathematical abilities
   Principle 4.5: Staff promote each child's enjoyment of and participation in the expressive arts
   Principle 4.6: Staff promote each child's physical abilities

5. Protective Care and Safety
   Principle 5.1: Staff act to protect each child
   Principle 5.2: Staff supervise children at all times
   Principle 5.3: Staff ensure that potentially dangerous products, plants and objects are inaccessible to children
   Principle 5.4: The centre ensures that buildings and equipment are safe
   Principle 5.5: The centre promotes occupational health and safety

6. Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing
   Principle 6.1: Staff promote healthy eating habits
   Principle 6.2: Staff implement effective and current food safety and hygiene practices
   Principle 6.3: Staff encourage children to follow simple rules of hygiene
   Principle 6.4: Staff ensure toileting and nappy changing procedures are positive experiences
   Principle 6.5: Staff support each child's needs for rest, sleep and comfort
   Principle 6.6: The centre acts to control the spread of infectious diseases and maintains records of immunisations

7. Managing to support Quality
   Principle 7.1: Written information about the centre's management is readily available to families
   Principle 7.2: Written information about the centre's management is readily available to staff
   Principle 7.3: Staffing policies and practices facilitate continuity of care for each child
   Principle 7.4: Management provides professional development opportunities for staff

The Role of Families in QIAS

Participation is an important way for families and child care services to build a relationship in which they are working toward mutual goals. Families are invited to contribute to the child care service in various ways.

Each centre will have its own way to encourage family involvement.

Some examples of family involvement at our centre’s are:

1. Parent advisory group – these are offered 4 times a year at the centre and all parents are encouraged to attend
2.  Completing Surveys
3. Sharing skills & knowledge such as music, art, language
4. Being a volunteer at the service – this is a great support for the service during excursions
5. Social events – Easter party, Christmas party, grandparents day,

Families should be made to feel that their contribution to the partnership with child care professionals is sought and valued, regardless of the role that each family chooses to play.