From today, February 27, 2026, significant amendments to the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations are now being enforced, introducing new digital device safety standards across early childhood education and care services. By formally including these standards in regulations such as Regulation 168 (Policies and Procedures), Regulations 97 & 99 (Children’s Safety), and Regulation 73 (Educational Program), the changes make digital safety a legal requirement, reinforcing the sector’s role as a champion of child safety in a technology-driven world.

These reforms embed modern child protection measures directly into the national regulations, requiring services to update policies, strengthen risk management, and train staff to ensure digital devices are used safely and responsibly.

In the ongoing discourse around quality early childhood education, educator-to-child ratios often dominate the conversation. While ratios are undeniably important for supervision and safety, a critical yet under-addressed factor is the physical space allocated to each child. The reality is stark: even with ideal ratios, overcrowded rooms can undermine well-being, learning outcomes, and emotional safety.

The National Law and the National Regulations illustrate the legal responsibilities of the approved provider, nominated super and Educators. The following article provides a reference point for Chapter 4 - Operational Requirements including a summary of each Regulation. This chapter outlines the specific requirements and expectations for the operation and management of an education and care service. This is crucial in ensuring that all education and care services and Educators provide a safe, healthy, and high-quality environment for children to learn and grow. 

A waiver enables a service that is non-compliant with the National Regulations or an element of the National Quality Standard to be taken to be compliant, or not required to comply, during the period that the waiver is in force.

With the impact of COVID -19 and well as shortages of ECT and qualified Educators, what do services do when an Educator is absent or when a temporary replacement of ECTs is required due to staff shortages or illness.  The following explains how to ensure staff ratios are compliant when an ECT is absent, no ECT is present at the service, an ECT has not completed their qualification and more. 

After the 2019 NQF review, some changes to the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations, have been agreed upon by Commonwealth, state, and territory education ministers for the betterment of children’s health, well-being, and security.

The Staff Ratios and Adequate Supervision information, for NSW early childhood services, has been revised and updated by the NSW Regulatory Authority, NSW Department Of Education.

In partnership with the New South Wales regulatory authority, ACECQA has developed a series of short, interactive eLearning modules to help approved providers understand their responsibilities under the National Law and Regulations. These modules are also available in web accessible versions.