Here’s a cheat sheet for Quality Area 7: Leadership and Governance from the NQS. This cheat sheet includes each standard, its elements, and practical examples tailored for early childhood settings.
Quality Area 7 Element Breakdown
| Standard | Element | Focus | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 – Governance | 7.1.1 | Service philosophy | Philosophy guides practice, is informed by families, and underpins decision-making. |
| 7.1.2 | Management systems | Systems are in place to manage risk, support compliance, and enable continuous improvement. | |
| 7.1.3 | Roles and responsibilities |
Roles are clear, understood, and support accountability and effective operation. |
|
| Standard | Element | Focus | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.2 – Leadership | 7.2.1 | Continuous improvement | A culture of reflection and improvement is embedded across the service. |
| 7.2.2 | Educational leadership | The educational leader supports pedagogy, reflective practice, and curriculum development. | |
| 7.2.3 | Development of professionals | Educators are supported to build skills, knowledge, and professional identity. |
Practical Examples
Standard 7.1 – Governance
7.1.1 Service philosophy
- Collaborative workshops with families to co-create philosophy statements
- Visual displays of philosophy in child-friendly language and symbols
- Annual review of philosophy linked to Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)
7.1.2 Management systems
- Risk assessment templates for excursions and daily routines
- Digital compliance calendars for policy reviews and audits
- Incident reporting systems with reflective follow-up
7.1.3 Roles and responsibilities
- Clear role descriptions shared during induction
- Visual organisational charts displayed in staff areas
- Regular team meetings clarifying responsibilities and accountability
Standard 7.2 – Leadership
7.2.1 Continuous improvement
- Staff reflection journals linked to QIP goals
- Monthly “practice spotlight” sessions to share innovations
- Family surveys feeding into service improvement plans
7.2.2 Educational leadership
- Mentoring sessions on linking observations to EYLF outcomes
- Facilitated reflective discussions after program evaluations
- Resource library curated by the educational leader for pedagogy
7.2.3 Professional development
- Individual learning plans for educators aligned with career goals
- Peer coaching and buddy systems for new staff
- Access to webinars, sector conferences, and cultural competence training
Further Reading
How To Achieve Quality Area 7
Reflection Questions For Quality Area 7
Documentation Services Require To Support Quality Area 7
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