Early Childhood Education and Care

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Our purpose is supporting early childhood services, families, communities and our other partners to ensure every Queensland child is happy, healthy and successful. Our responsibility is approving and regulating services under national and state legislation, funding early years services such as Early Years Places for children and families, and driving national reforms, including the following.

National Quality Framework

Most early childhood education and care services in Queensland are regulated under the National Quality Framework​.​​

Universal access to early childhood education​

Universal access to early ​childhood education​ (known as kindergarten) allows all children, no matter where they live in Queensland or what their circumstances, to have access to a quality, inclusive early childhood education. Kindergarten will be free​ for eligible-aged children who attend a government-approved program offering free kindy from 1 January 2024. This is 15 hours a week or 600 hours a year of free kindy.​

Early Childhood Workforce Strategy 2023–27

The Queensland Early Childhood Workforce Strategy will deliver a sustainable, qualified early childhood (EC) workforce who are recognised for their contribution to quality outcomes for children.​

The department has worked hand-in-hand with the EC sector to co-design the strategy.​

Kindy to Year 2: Enhancing K–2 Continuity and Alignment

The ​Enhancing K–2 Continuity and Alignment program is a blueprint for developing strong connections between kindergarten providers and schools.​

Other initiatives

The early years count

For tips, activities and information to support your child’s learning and development, go to the Early Childhood Education and Care website.

Successful transitions to school

Promoting a successful transition for children and families from home or early childhood education to school, including leading the:

• Australian Early Development Census data collection in Queensland
• Age-appropriate pedagogies for the early years of schooling program.​​

​​Inclusion ready: Enhancing inclusive practices, pathways and part​​nerships

The inclusion page​ on the Early Childhood Education and Care website is a collection of evidence-informed resources to support the work of educators and services in the early childhood education and care sector.