Service approval
Information on how new services can get approval to operate in NSW.
This webpage is managed by the NSW Early Learning Commission as the independent regulator for early childhood education and care in NSW. Learn about the Early Learning Commission.
The NSW Early Learning Commission is the independent regulator for ECEC for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector in NSW. To operate an early childhood education and care service in NSW, you will need to apply and obtain a provider approval first and then you can apply for a service approval through the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA ITS).
- Preliminary, Section 5 of the National Law defines an education and care service as any service providing or intended to provide education and care on a regular basis to children under 13 years of age other than:
- a school providing full-time education to children, including children attending in the year before grade 1 but not including a preschool program delivered in a school or a preschool that is registered as a school; or
- a preschool program delivered in a school if:
- the program is delivered in a class or classes where a full-time education program is also being delivered to school children; and
- the program is being delivered to fewer than 6 children in the school; or
- a personal arrangement; or
- a service principally conducted to provide instruction in a particular activity; or
- a service providing education and care to patients in a hospital or patients of a medical or therapeutic care service; or
- care provided under a child protection law of a participating jurisdiction; or
- a prescribed class of disability service; or
- a service of a prescribed class.
Approved providers must only start advertising an ECEC service once a service approval application has been submitted (under of the National Law). While an application is pending, approved providers must be transparent with families about the approval process, including that there is a possibility that the application may be refused.
If a service approval application is refused, the applicant cannot reapply for 12 months unless an exception is granted by the Commission.
Overview of steps
- Ensure you have a provider approval. Your provider application must be received, validated, assessed and approved prior to setting up a new service.
- The NSW Early Learning Commission validates the application for provider approval.
- Allow 60 days for the provider approval application assessment.
- Identify your service type and the related regulatory framework to determine how you must submit your application.
- Submit a service approval application:
- Includes submitting all prescribed information and documentation.
- Apply to offer the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) at the same time in NQA ITS if relevant to your service — for more information visit the .
- The NSW Early Learning Commission validates the application.
- The NSW Early Learning Commission assesses the application. Allow 90 days for this assessment. The assessment includes consideration of the Provider's compliance history and quality ratings status for all current services, as well as a pre-approval visit.
- Notification of service approval outcome.
Supporting resources
- - helping providers, developers and councils deliver new, high-quality early childhood education and care facilities. It includes national and state planning controls, as well as best-practice design guidance.
- (Australian Government)
- (ACECQA)
- Provider approval application process (NSW Early Learning Commission)
- Risk-based approach
- Service Approvals Policy