When a centre is due for assessment, they’re given a few days’ notice. The Department of Education requests various documents, including policies, the centre’s Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), and other key materials. These help the assessor tailor their questions and observations.

The assessor spends one to three days at the centre, observing staff, reviewing programs, and gauging educators’ knowledge of policies and procedures. They also request further documentation such as children’s learning stories, evidence of staff training, and ways the centre engages with families to ensure optimal outcomes for children.

Once observations are complete, the assessor reviews the collected data and may request additional evidence. The final rating reflects how well the centre meets the NQS across all areas.

Achieving an Exceeding rating is no small feat. To be rated Exceeding, centres must demonstrate a commitment to high-quality practices that go above and beyond the NQS requirements. For each assessed area, the centre must show three key themes:

Practice is Embedded in Service Operations: The practices and processes supporting quality are integrated into the centre’s daily operations, ensuring they are consistent and sustainable.

Practice is Informed by Critical Reflection: The centre regularly evaluates its practices and reflects on what works well and what could be improved, making adjustments to enhance the quality of care and learning.

Practice is Shaped by Meaningful Engagement with Families and/or the Community: The centre actively collaborates with families and communities, fostering partnerships that are integral to the centre’s operations and decision-making.

For these three themes to be consistently present, they need to be deeply embedded within the centre’s culture. This means ongoing professional development for staff, a centre-wide focus on quality care, and active engagement with families and the community.

Each assessment is different and focuses on areas and elements selected by the assessor. There’s no single way to prepare for an assessment other than to always provide best practices in all areas and maintaining an Exceeding rating has become increasingly challenging. As of September 2024, only 22.1% of services Australia-wide hold an Exceeding NQS rating, with Queensland’s figure at just 17.2% in December 2024 (ACECQA, 2024). Changes to assessment criteria in 2018 set a higher benchmark, making it harder for centres to retain this rating—by September 2019, only 50% of previously Exceeding centres maintained their status upon reassessment (ACECQA, 2018). These figures highlight the evolving standards and the continuous effort required to sustain excellence in early childhood education.

It’s important to note that achieving and maintaining the Exceeding rating isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about growth. Centres that are rated Exceeding show a constant commitment to improving and reflecting on their practices.

Maintaining the Exceeding rating we first received in 2018 is reassurance that Currumbin Pines Early Learning Centre continues to grow with the times maintaining a high standard of care for children, a positive work environment for educators, and a home away from home for the many Gold Coast families who, over the past eight years, have become our family.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple truth—children thrive in environments where they feel safe, supported, and inspired. Our Exceeding rating is more than just a certification; it’s a reflection of the love, dedication, and passion that our educators bring to their work every day. It means that when you drop your child off in the morning, you can do so with confidence, knowing they are in a place where they are valued, nurtured, and encouraged to explore the world around them.