About this tool

Find quality children’s education and care services to give your child the best start. Compare services and build a shortlist.

Most children's education and care services will have a National Quality Standard (NQS) rating. These are one way of helping families choose the best service for their children.

Choosing the right service can be an exciting time for you and your child. Learn about the types of early education and care services here.

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Terms of use

Calculate the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) that you may be entitled to using our simple tool.

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All approved early childhood education and care services across Australia are assessed by their state or territory government regulatory authority and receive a quality rating.

They are assessed against the 7 quality areas of the National Quality Standard (NQS) to promote continuous improvement and help families make informed decisions about their child's education and care:

Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

Excellent

Exceeding National Quality Standard

Meeting National Quality Standard

Working Towards National Quality Standard

Significant Improvement Required

Provisional - Not Yet Assessed

Service rating

long day care is perfect for those who need care for their children during business hours. It operates for at least 8 hours a day, typically Monday to Friday in an early childhood education centre and caters for children, from birth to school age.

Ideal for children who want to learn and play in small groups, in a homelike environment. It caters for children, birth to 12 years and is held in the home of a registered educator.

Preschool usually caters for children aged three to five years and is perfect for parents with children who are almost ready for primary school. Sometimes known as kindergarten, it can be a standalone service or part of another education and care service or school.

Outside school hours care operates before and after school and/or during school holidays. This service works well for parents with school age children, who need care outside of school hours.

Vacation care provides kindergarten and primary school children with fun, varied and engaging recreation-based activities during school holidays that contribute to their ongoing development and wellbeing.

Provides care in your family home. Supports families who are unable to access other mainstream child care options such as those who work non-standard hours, are geographically isolated or have families with challenging and complex needs.

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Learn how children's education and care services across Australia are assessed and rated.

More about the ratings used

Calculate the Child Care Subsidy that you may be entitled to using our simple tool.

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