NQS ratings explained
The National Quality Standard (NQS) is how ACECQA communicates quality for approved education and care services. ChildcareScout shows the published overall rating and quality areas — we do not invent assessments.
Overall ratings
- Excellent — exceptional practice recognised through ACECQA’s Excellent rating process.
- Exceeding NQS — practice goes beyond the National Quality Standard.
- Meeting NQS — practice meets the National Quality Standard.
- Working Towards NQS — one or more areas need improvement to meet the standard.
- Significant Improvement Required — serious issues that must be addressed.
Quality areas QA1–QA7
Each service can also publish ratings for seven quality areas (educational program, health and safety, physical environment, staffing, relationships with children, partnerships with families and communities, and governance). Compare pages show these when ACECQA publishes them.
How to use ratings here
Filter search by NQS rating, shortlist with Add to compare, and always confirm details on the official register. ChildcareScout Score blends NQS with completeness and location — it is not an ACECQA rating.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Exceeding NQS better than Meeting NQS?
- Yes — Exceeding means practice goes beyond the National Quality Standard, while Meeting means the standard is met. Excellent is a separate ACECQA recognition for exceptional practice.
- What if a service has no published rating?
- Some services are still awaiting assessment or the rating is not published in the extract we import. ChildcareScout shows Not available rather than inventing a score.
- Is ChildcareScout Score the same as NQS?
- No. ChildcareScout Score blends published NQS quality with information completeness and location/operating status. It is not an ACECQA rating.