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Step 2: Self-study and Continuing Improvement

Step 2 of Child Care Quality Assurance (CCQA) requires the service to make a self-assessment of the quality of its practices on a regular cycle. This involves consulting with management, all service staff, families and, where appropriate, with the children at the service.

During self-study, the service evaluates the quality of its practices for each of the Principles against the standards outlined in the relevant Quality Practices Guide. The results of this self-study process inform the service's Continuing Improvement Plan.

As part of this process, service staff and management collect selected documents and other evidence to provide a record of the service's quality practices. Such documentation may include records of the children in care, events, activities and quality improvement practices including any professional development undertaken by staff.

At specified times when the service's Self-study Report is due, the service's ratings for each Principle and its Continuing Improvement Plan for each Quality Area are summarised in a Self-study Report, which is submitted to NCAC.

Accredited services are required to submit a Self-study Report to NCAC every 2.5 years. An Accredited service's next Self-study Report is due by the date specified on its Certificate of Accreditation.

Assistance and Resources

The Australian Government funds a range of agencies to assist services participating in CCQA. This may be in relation to self-study and continuing improvement and the delivery of quality services. These agencies provide a range of services including telephone support, training courses, bookshops and lending resources. Contact details for Professional Support Coordinators are available from the link below or by telephoning NCAC.

• Professional Support Coordinators

NCAC Publications are available for purchase on the NCAC Online Store or by completing a Publications Order Form and returning it to NCAC, with payment by cheque, money order or credit card.

Services are advised to read the Support Documents for their service type. These provide information on the 5 steps of CCQA, information about the Accreditation Decision and technical information about the Accreditation Decision process.

• Support Documents

For information on lodging an extension request for Step 2 and Step 3 of the CCQA process please see the link below.

• Lodging an extension request to NCAC

Other Steps in Child Care Quality Assurance:

• Step 1: Registration
• Step 2: Self-study and Continuing Improvement
• Step 3: Validation
• Step 4: Moderation
• Step 5: Accreditation Decision
• Review of an Accreditation Decision