Figures from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority showed 99 out of 109 centres in the region achieved ratings of meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard.

Six services were listed as working towards this standard while four had not yet been assessed.

The ratings, which can be found at startingblocks.gov.au, cover long day care, holiday care, preschools and out of school hours care.

Education, health and safety, staffing, physical environment, leadership and the relationships with children, parents and communities are taken into account.

The 109 centres examined by The Border Mail are located in Albury, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla, Beechworth, Tawonga, Yackandandah, Baranduda, Tangambalanga, Chiltern, Mitta, Henty, Yarrawonga, Mulwala, Holbrook, Culcairn, Jindera, Corryong, Tallangatta, Howlong, Corowa and Rutherglen.

Authority general manager Michael Petrie said the National Quality Standard was over and above the minimum operating requirements needed before a service could open.

“A rating of ‘Working Towards’ the NQS is not a failure,” he said. 

“It recognises a service is making progress to meet the NQS and doesn’t in any way place risk to the health, safety or well being of children.”

Albury Out of School Hours and Albury Preschool have achieved excellent ratings, comprising two out of 10 such ranks in NSW.

Albury Preschool director Gabe Connell said the rating lasted three years, but spot checks by an assessment and compliance officer could always occur.

“Just to make sure that everybody is still doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” she said.

“We try and be innovative all the time; we have very highly qualified and experienced staff. Committees along the way have agreed that the bottom line of quality is probably the staff and interactions that staff have with the children.”