Childcare centres glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a childcare centre provider in Redland Bay.
- What is a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care?
- A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is an accredited vocational qualification that enables educators to work legally with children from birth to age five in Australian childcare centres, preschools, and family day care services.
- What is a certified supervisor in childcare
- A certified supervisor is a staff member at a childcare service who holds the qualifications and regulatory approval required to oversee daily operations and ensure compliance with childcare legislation.
- What is a Child Care Provider CRN?
- A Child Care Provider CRN is a unique customer reference number assigned by the Department of Education to childcare providers and families when they register for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) scheme.
- What is a diploma-qualified educator?
- A diploma-qualified educator holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent tertiary qualification, meeting the higher qualification requirement for room leaders and supervisory roles in regulated childcare services.
- What is a family day care educator?
- A family day care educator is a registered childcare professional who provides care for children in their own home as part of a formal family day care scheme, distinct from unregulated home-based carers.
- What is a gap fee?
- A gap fee is the amount parents pay directly to a childcare centre each day after subtracting the government subsidy from the total daily fee.
- What is a nominated supervisor?
- A nominated supervisor is the individual appointed to hold day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of a childcare centre, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law.
- What is a Working with Children Check (Blue Card)?
- A Working with Children Check, known as a Blue Card in Queensland, is a mandatory background screening clearance required for anyone employed or volunteering in childcare and other child-related settings to assess suitability to work with children.
- What is an activity test (CCS)?
- The activity test is an eligibility requirement under the Child Care Subsidy scheme that uses a parent or carer's approved activities (work, study, volunteer work, unpaid work) to determine how many subsidised childcare hours per fortnight they can access.
- What is an approved provider?
- An approved provider is a childcare centre or early learning service that holds legal authorisation under the Education and Care Services National Law to operate and accept Child Care Subsidy payments from the government on behalf of enrolled families.
- What is an educator-to-child ratio?
- The minimum number of qualified educators required to supervise a group of children at a childcare centre, determined by the child's age and set out in Australia's National Regulations.
- What is an enrolment CWA (Complying Written Arrangement)?
- An enrolment CWA (Complying Written Arrangement) is the mandatory written agreement between a family and a childcare provider that establishes the terms of care and must be in place for the Child Care Subsidy to be paid.
- What is an Inclusion Support Program (ISP)?
- The Inclusion Support Program is a federal government funding scheme that provides specialist support and resources to childcare services to help them include children with additional needs, developmental delays, or disabilities.
- What is an individual learning plan?
- An individual learning plan is a documented framework created collaboratively by educators and families that sets tailored learning goals, strategies, and support adjustments for a child with additional needs in an early childhood setting.
- What is child care subsidy (CCS)?
- Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a federal Australian government payment administered by Services Australia that reduces the out-of-pocket cost of childcare for eligible families based on household income and work or study activity.
- What is in-home care (IHC)?
- In-home care (IHC) is a form of subsidised childcare delivered by an approved educator in the child's own residence, typically available to families who meet eligibility criteria under government assistance schemes.
- What is kindergarten eligible age in Queensland?
- In Queensland, children become eligible for kindergarten (the first year of formal schooling) on 1 July in the year they turn five, provided they will turn five by 30 June of that calendar year.
- What is kindergarten funding hours in Queensland?
- Queensland government kindergarten funding hours are a state-run subsidy that covers a set number of free or reduced-cost early learning hours per week at approved kindergarten and preschool services for eligible children.
- What is Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)?
- Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) encompasses before school, after school, and vacation care services for children attending primary and secondary school.
- What is the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)?
- The Early Years Learning Framework is Australia's national curriculum that guides educators in planning and delivering play-based learning experiences for children from birth to five years old, focused on five learning outcomes.
- What is the My Time, Our Place framework?
- My Time, Our Place is Australia's national quality framework that guides programming and practice in before and after school care and vacation care services.
- What is the National Quality Framework?
- The National Quality Framework (NQF) is Australia's system of laws, regulations, and quality standards that governs all early childhood education and care services, including childcare centres.
- What is the National Quality Standard (NQS)?
- The National Quality Standard is Australia's regulatory framework that assesses early childhood services and schools against seven quality areas, with services receiving ratings of Exceeding, Meeting, Working Towards, or Unsatisfactory.
- What is vacation care?
- Vacation care is a structured program offered by outside school hours care services during school holidays, providing supervised childcare and activities for school-age children while parents work.