NQS Quality Area 2 - or QA2 - is one of the 7 quality areas under the National Quality Standard.
Recognising that all children have the right to experience quality education and care in an environment that provides for their physical and psychological wellbeing, QA2 focuses on safeguarding and promoting children's health and safety, minimising risks and protecting children from harm, injury or infection.
Under QA2, services should provide support for each child's growing competence, confidence and independence. We can tie this to the EYLF, where the framework states: 'Wellbeing incorporates both physical and psychological aspects and is central to belonging, being and becoming.'
The 2 standards of NQS Quality Area 2 are crucial to delivering quality outcome for children because:
It is the right of every child to be healthy, safe and protected.
A child's growth, competence, confidence, independence and learning is impacted by their health, comfort and wellbeing.
Effective management of injuries, illnesses, emergencies and incidents and adequate supervision is vital for children's safety and their engagement in the program.
Each standard is a high-level outcomes statement, and is accompanied by an element, which describes outcomes that contribute to the standard.
NQS Quality Area 2: Standard 2.1 - Health
Standard 2.1 | Health | Each child's health and physical activity is supported and promoted. |
Element 2.1.1 | Wellbeing and comfort | Each child's wellbeing and comfort is provided for, including appropriate opportunities to meet each child's need for sleep, rest and relaxation. |
Element 2.1.2 | Health practices and procedures | Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented. |
Element 2.1.3 | Healthy lifestyle | Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child. |
What documentation is sighted by assessors under QA2: Standard 2.1 - Health?
Element 2.1.1:
The service's approach to sleep and rest is shared with families
The service's approach to addressing individual clothing needs and preferences is shared with families.
Families are provided with daily information about their child's sleep and rest patterns and nappy change/toileting patterns
Planning that reflects the input of children into rules and routines of the service that relate to the comfort of individuals and the group
Element 2.1.2:
The service's medical conditions policy
Enrolment records containing health information and authorisations for each child enrolled at the service
Individual medical management plans (developed and reviewed in consultation with families and medical professionals) for children with a specific health care need, allergy or relevant medical condition or who have been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis or asthma. The plans should include evidence that the information received from families and medical professionals has been used to develop or review the child's individual medical management plan
Written authorisation for the administration of medication
A written process for and records of the administration of medication for children that includes: authorisation from a parent or guardian to administer the medication; the name of the medication being administered; details of the time and dosage of the medication administered; the signature of the person who administered the medication
Element 2.1.3:
The service's health and safety policy, including nutrition, food and beverages and dietary requirements
The service's policy on dealing with medical conditions such as anaphylaxis
Written procedures for the safe storage and heating of food and drink
Resources for families on healthy eating and where to go to get further information
Written menus (where the service is responsible for providing food) on display detailing the foods provided for children that are consistent with the: Australian Government guidelines Get Up & Grow: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood, and/or Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia
Furniture and utensils that are age appropriate and developmentally suitable to encourage
children to be positively involved in and enjoy mealtimes
Evidence that families are provided with daily information about their child's intake and experiences with food and drink
Written procedures for the safe storage and heating of babies' bottles and breast milk.
The planned program to consider how it incorporates physical activity to meet the capabilities of the children involved, including how it balances quiet/passive play times with times of more energetic outdoor play
Evidence that information about the importance of physical activity to children's health and development is communicated to families.
NQS Quality Area 2: Standard 2.2 - Safety
Standard 2.2 | Safety | Each child is protected |
Element 2.2.1 | Supervision | At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard |
Element 2.2.2 | Incident and emergency management | Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practised and implemented |
Element 2.2.3 | Child Protection | Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect |
What documentation is sighted by assessors under QA2: Standard 2.2 - Safety?
Element 2.2.1:
Evidence of planning for the supervision of children in outdoor and indoor areas, including supervision of nappy changing/toileting, and meal and sleep routines
Evidence of planning for excursions that includes a risk assessment and considers supervision implications
Written procedures for conducting daily safety checks and identifying and undertaking the maintenance of buildings and equipment
Completed daily safety checks of buildings, equipment and the general environment
Records of pest/vermin inspections and/or eradications
The service's policy and procedures on delivery and collection of children that ensures that children are released only to authorised nominees
Records of children's attendance, including arrivals and departures, with the signature of the person responsible for verifying the accuracy of the record or the person collecting the child
A written process for monitoring who enters and leaves the service premises at all times
The service's policy and procedures on excursions that include evidence of a written risk assessment undertaken prior to conducting an excursion
Evidence of detailed information provided to families regarding excursions, including the destination, mode of transport, educator-to-child ratios and the number of adults in attendance, and written authorisation for children to be taken outside the service premises, including for excursions or routine outings (except during emergency situations)
The service's medical conditions policy
The service's policy on dealing with water safety, including safety during water-based activities
Enrolment records that include authorisations and health information
The service's policy and procedures on sun protection and evidence that information about the service's approach to sun protection is shared with families
Evidence that information about the service's approach to safe sleep is documented and shared with families.
Element 2.2.2:
Procedures for managing incidents and emergencies and providing a child-safe environment
Records of emergency drills, and evaluations of these
A current, portable record of children's emergency contacts that can be carried by educators in case of emergencies and/or evacuations
Written emergency and evacuation procedures that include instructions for what must be done in the event of an emergency and an emergency evacuation floor plan (for example, a plan for a bushfire in a bushfire-prone area)
Written plans to manage an emergency that may be likely to affect individuals at the service (for example, the management of an asthma attack, anaphylactic reaction or epileptic fit)
Written communication with families about the service's emergency procedures and plans to manage incidents
Evidence that emergency equipment is tested as recommended by recognised authorities.
Element 2.2.3:
Evidence that information about child protection procedures and expectations is provided to educators, co-ordinators, family day care educator assistants, staff members, volunteers and students
Evidence that educators, co-ordinators, family day care educator assistants and staff members have attended training or professional development on child protection
Evidence of information provided to families about the service's practices in relation to child protection
Evidence that educators and co-ordinators work collaboratively with other authorities and/or professionals to support children who have specific protection needs
A current list of local community resources that can provide information and support for children, families, educators, co-ordinators, family day care educator assistants and staff members in relation to children at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
What to do to Meet of Exceed NQS Quality Area 2
Now you know the basics of what documentation needs to be sighted by authorised officers, it's important to ensure that your documentation is:
Efficient: you don't want to spend too much time documenting that you spend less time promoting the health and safety of the children in your care.
Easy to communicate: when an assessor comes in, you want these things to be sighted quickly and easily. This will help the assessor to understand that you have everything you need to Meet/Exceed QA2.
But efficiency and communication can be hard. That's why we've developed OWNA.
See how OWNA can help you improve your NQS rating by making documentation efficient and communication easier.
Download your FREE guide to improving your NQS rating here.
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