The National Quality Framework
for Early Childhood Education (NQF) Standards
1. The Rights of the Child
Ensuring that each child’s rights are met requires that she/he is enabled to exercise choice and to use initiative as
an active participant and partner in her/his own development and learning.
2. Environments
Enriching environments, both indoor and outdoor (including materials and equipment) are well-maintained,
safe, available, accessible, adaptable, developmentally appropriate, and offer a variety of challenging and
stimulating experiences.
3. Parents and Families
Valuing and involving parents and families requires a proactive partnership approach evidenced by a range of
clearly stated, accessible and implemented processes, policies and procedures.
4. Consultation
Ensuring inclusive decision-making requires consultation that promotes participation, and seeks out, listens to
and acts upon the views and opinions of children, parents and staff, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
5. Interactions
Fostering constructive interactions (child/child, child/adult and adult/adult) requires explicit policies, procedures
and practice that emphasise the value of process and are based on mutual respect, equal partnership and
sensitivity.
6. Play
Promoting play requires that each child has ample time to engage in freely available and accessible,
developmentally appropriate and well-resourced opportunities for exploration, creativity and meaning
making in the company of other children, with participating and supportive adults and alone, where
appropriate.
7. Curriculum
Encouraging each child’s holistic development and learning requires the implementation of a verifiable,
broad-based, documented and flexible curriculum or programme.
8. Planning and Evaluation
Enriching and informing all aspects of practice within the setting requires cycles of observation, planning,
action and evaluation undertaken on a regular basis.
9. Health and Welfare
Promoting the health and welfare of the child requires protection from harm, provision of nutritious food,
appropriate opportunities for rest, and secure relationships characterised by trust and respect.
10. Organisation
Organising and managing resources effectively requires an agreed written philosophy, supported by clearly
communicated policies and procedures to guide and determine practice.
11. Professional Practice
Practising in a professional manner requires that individuals have skills, knowledge, values and attitudes
appropriate to their role and responsibility within the setting. In addition, it requires regular reflection upon
practice and engagement in supported ongoing professional development.
12. Communication
Communicating effectively in the best interests of the child requires policies, procedures and actions
that promote the proactive sharing of knowledge and information among appropriate stakeholders, with
respect and confidentiality.
13. Transitions
Ensuring continuity of experiences for each child requires policies, procedures and practice that promote
sensitive management of transitions, consistency in key relationships, liaison within and between settings, the
keeping and transfer of relevant information (with parental consent), and the close involvement of parents and,
where appropriate, relevant professionals.
14. Identity and Belonging
Promoting positive identities and a strong sense of belonging requires clearly defined policies, procedures and
practice that empower every child and adult to develop a confident self- and group-identity, and have a positive
understanding and regard for the identity and rights of others.
15. Legislation & Regulation
Being compliant requires that all relevant regulations and legislative requirements are met or exceeded.
16. Community Involvement
Promoting community involvement requires the establishment of networks and connections evidenced by
policies, procedures and actions which extend and support all adults’ and children’s engagement with the wider
community.
Site last updated:
3 September, 2010
Centre for Early Childhood Development & Education
Gate Lodge, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Tel: 00353 (0)1 8842110 Fax: 00353 (0)1 8842111
Email: early.childhood@spd.dcu.ie
