Evelyn Scott Preschool earns first Excellent Rating, becoming ACT’s tenth recognised service

Evelyn Scott Preschool in Denman Prospect, ACT, has received the Excellent rating from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), becoming the tenth service in the ACT to achieve the national honour.

The preschool, which forms part of Evelyn Scott School, was recognised for its deep commitment to reconciliation, inclusive practice, and sector leadership. The rating is valid until 27 May 2028.

Embedding Ngunnawal language and culture

Central to the service’s approach is its ongoing commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, particularly through the embedding of Ngunnawal language and culture in everyday practice. Educators use key Ngunnawal words and phrases as part of a bilingual approach to build cultural understanding and respect, and reflect community voices.

The service’s approach to reconciliation includes deep consultation with Elders, collaborative learning with children, and visible inclusion of First Nations perspectives throughout the preschool environment and program.

Shared leadership and community engagement

Evelyn Scott Preschool was recognised for its sustained commitment to distributed leadership, with staff empowered to engage in professional learning communities and contribute to sector-wide dialogue and practice-sharing.

The service has forged strong partnerships with families, the school community and local organisations, including ongoing contributions to professional learning networks and community-led initiatives. These relationships support its inclusive programming and provide children with real-world connections to learning.

Child voice, choice and agency

In line with the service’s pedagogical framework, children are positioned as active participants in their own learning. Educators prioritise opportunities for child-led inquiry and regularly include children in decision-making processes, planning cycles and reflective practice.

This commitment to agency is evident across indoor and outdoor learning spaces, in family partnerships, and in the ways educators reflect with children on topics that matter to them.

Sector leadership and sustained excellence

To qualify for the Excellent rating, services must be rated Exceeding in all seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard (NQS) and demonstrate excellence in at least one of four key criteria. Evelyn Scott Preschool met and exceeded these benchmarks across multiple domains.

ACECQA highlighted the service’s alignment with high-quality practice, its commitment to continuous improvement, and its contribution to sector knowledge-sharing as stand-out elements of its application.

“The commitment of Evelyn Scott Preschool to reconciliation and inclusion is evident in its day-to-day practice and long-term planning,” ACECQA said in its announcement.

The Excellent rating is awarded for three years, with services eligible to reapply after that period. Only a small number of early learning services across Australia currently hold the designation.

To learn more about the Excellent rating, visit the ACECQA website.