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Protocol for a mixed-methods investigation of quality improvement in early childhood education and care in Australia

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  • Harrison, Linda J.
  • Andrews, Rebecca
  • Hadley, Fay
  • Irvine, Susan
  • Waniganayake, Manjula
  • Barblett, Lennie
  • Davis, Belinda
  • Hatzigianni, Maria
  • Li, Hui

Abstract

International recognition of the early years as a crucial foundational period has led to the design and implementation of quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) that define, communicate, and monitor the components of quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC). The aim of these policies is to achieve effective quality assurance and improvement through a system-oriented approach to assessment and evaluation. Informed by ecological systems theory, this paper outlines a three-phase, mixed-methods design for researching a national sample of child care centres that showed overall improvement on the Australian National Quality Standard (NQS) assessment and rating (A&R) criteria. The study samples are drawn from a national dataset of centre-based child care services with two or more A&R rounds and an initial rating of Working Towards NQS (N = 1,935). The results of this study will provide insights into the macro-, exo-, meso- and micro-systems level factors and strategies that support quality in ECEC services.

Suggested Citation

  • Harrison, Linda J. & Andrews, Rebecca & Hadley, Fay & Irvine, Susan & Waniganayake, Manjula & Barblett, Lennie & Davis, Belinda & Hatzigianni, Maria & Li, Hui, 2023. "Protocol for a mixed-methods investigation of quality improvement in early childhood education and care in Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:155:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923004747
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107278
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daphna Bassok & Thomas S. Dee & Scott Latham, 2019. "The Effects of Accountability Incentives in Early Childhood Education," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(4), pages 838-866, September.
    2. Grindal, Todd & Bowne, Jocelyn Bonnes & Yoshikawa, Hirokazu & Schindler, Holly S. & Duncan, Greg J. & Magnuson, Katherine & Shonkoff, Jack P., 2016. "The added impact of parenting education in early childhood education programs: A meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 238-249.
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:6618 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Pauline Slot, 2018. "Structural characteristics and process quality in early childhood education and care: A literature review," OECD Education Working Papers 176, OECD Publishing.
    5. Gordon Cleveland & Michael Krashinsky, 2009. "The nonprofit advantage: Producing quality in thick and thin child care markets," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 440-462.
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