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Step 3: Validation

Validation is Step 3 of the Child Care Quality Assurance (CCQA) process. Validators are child care professionals who are selected and trained by NCAC to undertake Validation Visits of child care services. The role of the Validator is to observe practices, view documentation and ask questions to gather information, which will enable them to validate the indicators in a Validation Report against the quality standards outlined in the Quality Practices Guide for each CCQA system. The Validator does not make the Accreditation Decision.

From 1 July 2006 NCAC has directly employed Validators to undertake all Validation Visits. Validators meet specific selection criteria which includes having relevant qualifications and experience.

Validation Surveys

When NCAC receives the Self-Study Report, Validation Surveys will be sent to the service which must be completed by the staff, families and children (where appropriate). The completed surveys must be submitted to NCAC in one submission by the due date stated in the letter from NCAC. The links below outline the Validation Surveys for each service type.

Family Day Care

Coordination unit staff and carers are required to complete a Validation Survey based on the Principles stated in the FDCQA Quality Practices Guide. Staff and carers will be asked to indicate whether the scheme is achieving this Principle at an Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Good Quality or High Quality level.

School age children are also asked to complete a Validation Survey which has been specifically designed for children. This Survey also contains a series of statements based on the Principles stated in the FDCQA Quality Practices Guide which children will be asked to indicate how they feel about their carer and family day care against a four-point scale: not at all; some of the time; most of the time; and, all of the time.

More information on FDCQA Validation Surveys for children »

Long Day Care

The centre Director and staff are required to complete a Validation Survey based on the Principles stated in the QIAS Quality Practices Guide. The Principle will be stated and the Director and staff will be asked to indicate whether the centre is achieving this Principle at an Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Good Quality or High Quality level.

Outside School Hours Care

All staff, including the service Coordinator/Director, are required to complete a Validation Survey based on the Principles stated in the OSHCQA Quality Practices Guide. The Principle will be stated and staff will be asked to indicate whether the service is achieving this Principle at an Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Good Quality or High Quality level.

School age children are also asked to complete a Validation Survey which has been specifically designed for children. This Survey also contains a series of statements based on the Principles stated in the OSHCQA Quality Practices Guide which children will be asked to indicate how they feel about their outside school hours care service against a four-point scale: not at all; some of the time; most of the time; and, all of the time.

More information on OSHCQA Validation Surveys for children »

Resources

NCAC Publications are available for purchase on the NCAC Online Store or by completing a Publications and Administrative Payments Form (PDF 58kb - New Window) and returning it to NCAC, with payment by cheque, money order or credit card.

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

Support Documents and Quality Companions

For information on requesting an extension of the Self-study Report due date or the Validation Visit timeframe, please see the document below:

Requesting an Extension (PDF 53kb - New Window)

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