Working together for children’s learning and wellbeing

Children benefit when families and services work together. Communicating with the service supports your child’s learning, development and well being.

A range of services provide supportive learning environments and opportunities for your child to learn through play, social interactions and routines. Educators plan and provide for the development of each child’s skills, knowledge and independence.

In partnership with families, quality education and care enhances learning and development during a child’s formative years, which has long term benefits.

  • A searchable list of Education and Care Services is available on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Authority website.

    LONG DAY CARE (LDC)

    Long day care (LDC) services usually cater for children from birth to five years of age.

    These services operate for the whole day. For example, between 6:30am and 6:00pm, from Monday to Friday.

    Long day care services are regulated under the National Law.

    OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE (OSHC)

    Outside school hours care (OSHC) services provide education and care for school aged children, generally up to 12 years of age.

    These services may offer care before and after school and/or during school holidays. Many of these services are located on school sites.

    OSHC services are regulated under the National Law.

    FAMILY DAY CARE (FDC)

    Family day care (FDC) services cater for children from birth to 12 years of age.

    Children are educated and cared for in small groups, generally in the homes of registered FDC educators.

    Family day care service providers are responsible for monitoring and supporting FDC educators to ensure quality education and care is provided to each child.

    Family day care services are regulated under the National Law.

  • View the list of current Licensed Services operating in Tasmania

    IN HOME CARE

    In Home Child Care services provide a specific service to eligible families by placing carers with children in the family’s own home.

    In Home Child Care services are licensed and the providers monitor the care provided to children.

    In Home Child Care is regulated under the Child Care Act 2001.

    OCCASIONAL CARE

    Occasional care services offer child care on a limited number of days of the week and/or operate for shorter hours on the days that care is available. Most services provide care for children under school age.

    Occasional care services and play centres are licensed and operate in accordance with relevant Standards.

    Occasional care is regulated under the Child Care Act 2001.

    The Starting Blocks website provides a range of information and resources for families about early childhood education, including:

    • children’s development and milestones
    • what you can do at home to encourage your child’s learning and development
    • what you should expect from a service
    • how to find a service and tips on starting child care
    • the ratings of all approved education and care services
    • The Australian Government Childcare Finder website provides information to families about approved services.

     

    Information on Complaints About a Service is available.

  • Education and care services are approved and regulated under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010. These services include Long Day Care, Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) and Family Day Care (FDC).

    Licensed services are licensed and regulated under the Child Care Act (Tasmania) 2001. Some services do not operate on a full time basis and some receive funding through the Education and Care Unit (ECU) Grants program.

  • The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets high standards for education and care. It purposefully promotes continuous improvement and encourages services to constantly review and improve the quality of care they provide for children.

    There are 40 elements that make up the National Quality Standard (NQS), within seven quality areas. Working Towards the NQS means that a service has not met at least one of the elements in the NQS.

    This does not mean that a service has failed to meet any of the requirements that pose a risk to the health and safety of children. In fact a service may be exceeding in a number of quality areas and still receive an overall rating of Working Towards the NQS.

    Families are encouraged to check the overall rating and the rating in each of the seven quality areas to evaluate a service and determine a service’s strengths. Talking to a service about their rating may assist families in their decision making.

  • The Education and Care Unit cannot assist you with enquiries relating to schools or childcare payments. However, the following contacts may be useful in seeking information:

    Child Care Subsidy – Centre Link – Families – 136 150

    MyGov Help desk – 132 307

    Complaints about a government school – 6165 6466

    Complaints about a Catholic School – 6210 8888

    Student assistance scheme – Dept. of Education – www.education.tas.gov.au

    Information on Infectious diseases – Dept. of Health – 1800 671 738

    School enrolment enquiries – Dept. of Education – 1800 816 057