Print this page

2. Committed to quality

Flying Start services provide a quality service under the National Law and NQS, including warm and responsive relationships and intentional play-based practice.

Snapshot of your Partnership requirements

  • Quality and safety commitment – Providers and Partner Services are required to commit to quality and safety in education and care in their services as evidenced through information shared from the ESB to the OECD
  • Teacher-led program – The preschool program must be developed, implemented and delivered by a qualified ECT registered with the Teachers Registration Board (TRB). Where a qualified ECT is not available, a person holding a Special Authority to Teach as an ECT (ECT SAT) granted by the TRB will be accepted. Where the program is being led by a person with an ECT SAT, a registered ECT must be made available to coach and support programming and practice
  • Additional non-contact time – ECTs delivering the preschool program must receive an additional 2 hours of non-contact time per week over and above the current relevant industrial award (currently, this means a total minimum of 4 hours per week), and 2 days of paid professional development per year over and above the current relevant industrial award
  • Commitment to workforce development – Providers and Partner Services are required to demonstrate a commitment to workforce development, including through traineeships, hosting student placements or supporting educators to upskill to become ECTs. ECT SATs and diploma-qualified educators are required to be supported to access professional development, curriculum resources and tools – including those offered at no cost by the OECD to support high-quality teaching and learning
  • Professional Networks – Providers are required to ensure Partner Services participate in Flying Start Professional Networks
  • Professional learning – Providers and Partner Services are required to support professional learning for their ECTs through planning for and supporting engagement in professional learning, including through OECD Funded Programs and use of available backfill funding
  • Quality Uplift program – Services rated as Working Towards the NQS before formal preschool provision begins or during their agreement, must participate in the Quality Uplift program. If their rating falls, the provider must ensure the OECD is notified
  • Enhancing Quality program planning – Providers and Partner Services are required to undertake service-level learning and development planning that aligns to their strategic quality objectives identified through the Partnership Plan and implement funded activities in accordance with the Partnership Plan