Navigating Early Childhood Education in New South Wales

The NSW Department of Education plays a central role in supporting early childhood education and care (ECEC), overseeing more than 6,000 services across early learning and outside school hours care (OSHC) settings.

Recent child safety reforms have reinforced a clear expectation across the sector: the rights, safety and wellbeing of children must be prioritised in all aspects of service delivery. These reforms, alongside the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, continue to shape how services operate and how quality is assessed.

The department’s early childhood education portal provides a central point of access for guidance, resources and updates, supporting families, educators and service providers to navigate an increasingly complex landscape.

For families, understanding early childhood education options can be challenging. The department provides practical, accessible information to support parents and carers to make informed decisions about their child’s learning and care.

This includes guidance on service types, enrolment processes and what to look for when choosing a service. A strong emphasis is also placed on children’s development, including advice on milestones and strategies to support learning at home.

Transition to school is a key focus area. The department offers targeted resources to help families support children as they move into formal schooling, recognising this as a critical period for building confidence, independence and a positive approach to learning.

This approach reflects a broader commitment to partnering with families, acknowledging their central role in children’s development and wellbeing.

A skilled and stable workforce remains essential to delivering high-quality early learning. The department outlines pathways for individuals entering the sector, as well as opportunities for educators to build on existing qualifications and experience.

Access to professional learning and sector resources supports continuous improvement and alignment with best practice. The department’s ECEC resource library provides a wide range of materials to support educators in areas such as pedagogy, compliance and leadership.

These supports are particularly important in the context of ongoing workforce shortages, which continue to affect services across metropolitan, regional and remote areas. Strengthening workforce capability and retention remains a key priority for the sector.

Approved providers and service leaders operate within a detailed regulatory framework and carry significant responsibility for ensuring compliance, quality and safety.

The department provides clear guidance on these responsibilities, including information on service approvals, compliance requirements and access to funding programs. This support is designed to assist services to meet their obligations while maintaining a focus on continuous improvement.

Sector leaders also have access to research, data and policy updates, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Oversight of the sector is delivered through the NSW Early Learning Commission, which regulates early childhood services to ensure compliance with legislative requirements. This includes monitoring service quality, responding to risks and supporting regulatory consistency across NSW.

The department actively supports engagement with the sector and broader community through consultation processes and access to current research and data.

These initiatives provide opportunities for educators, providers and families to contribute to policy development and reform, while also supporting transparency and accountability.

Data plays an important role in identifying trends, informing planning and responding to emerging challenges. This is particularly relevant in areas such as workforce supply, service accessibility and quality improvement.

A commitment to inclusion underpins the department’s approach to early childhood education. Ensuring equitable access to high-quality learning experiences is a priority across all regions of NSW.

The department formally recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways of NSW. Supporting improved educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remains a key focus, with targeted strategies designed to promote participation, engagement and success.

Inclusive practice also extends to supporting children with diverse learning needs, ensuring services are equipped to respond to a wide range of developmental, cultural and community contexts.

As the early childhood education and care sector continues to evolve, the NSW Department of Education remains a critical source of information, guidance and support.

Its centralised resources, combined with a strong regulatory and policy framework, support the sector to deliver safe, high-quality education and care for children across NSW.

Further information is available via the department’s early childhood education portal.