The Front Project examines link between quality ranking and developmental outcomes 

The Front Project and Deloitte Access Economics have released a new explainer examining the link between services that Meet or Exceed the National Quality Standard (NQS) and improved developmental outcomes for children first identified in a recently released AERO report. 

The explainer titled, “The NQF Works! Implications of AERO’s study linking quality and child development” highlights the essential role of quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in shaping children’s developmental outcomes.    

AERO, the Australian Education Research Organisation, partnered with the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) Child Development and Early Education Group at The University of Queensland to examine how elements of ECEC quality relate to children’s developmental outcomes in Australia.

Two key findings of the research were:

1. Children in services Exceeding NQS had consistently lower rates of developmental vulnerability than those in Meeting and Working Towards NQS (or below) services.*

2. The quality of educational program and practice (QA 1), physical environments (QA 3) and relationships with children (QA5) most strongly predict children’s development when they enter school.

“The research from AERO reveals that the National Quality Framework (NQF)—particularly the quality standards on educational programs, physical environments, and relationships with children—predicts positive children’s development as they enter school,” The Front Project’s CEO Dr. Caroline Croser-Barlow said. 

“This is gold for policymakers and should be examined closely to help direct future investments.” 

The primer also calls out that although overall progress towards establishing a link between quality and outcomes is positive, evidence shows that lower socio economic areas, as measured by the SEIFA index, continue to have a higher proportion of services rated as Working Towards the NQS which, by extension, raises concerns about the developmental vulnerabilities of children attending services in these areas. 

“The Front Project and Deloitte’s latest report reveals that children who live in disadvantaged areas are missing out on the quality we know makes a difference,” Dr Croser-Barlow said. 

“We must work together to do better for all of our children, regardless of where they live.”  

 ”This report highlights a clear path forward; by continuing to lift quality across all ECEC services. We must work together to ensure all children in Australia gain the lifelong benefits of quality early learning and can thrive.”

To read The Front Project’s explainer please see here.