South Australian Numbered Acts

EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES (REGISTRATION AND STANDARDS) ACT 2011 (NO 46 OF 2011) - SECT 9

9—Objects and principles

        (1)         The objects of this Act include providing for the regulation of the provision of education and early childhood services in a manner that maintains high standards of competence and conduct by providers and—

            (a)         recognises that all children should have access to high quality education and early childhood facilities and services that—

                  (i)         address their developmental needs; and

                  (ii)         maximise their learning and development potential through an appropriate curriculum; and

                  (iii)         support their educational achievement; and

                  (iv)         promote enthusiasm for learning; and

                  (v)         support, promote and contribute to their health, safety and well-being; and

            (b)         provides for a diverse range of services; and

            (c)         recognises the rights of parents to access a diverse range of education and early childhood services providers; and

            (d)         enhances public confidence in the operation of education and early childhood services providers.

        (2)         The following principles should be taken into account in the administration of this Act:

            (a)         parents and guardians should have the right to choose the best services for their family;

            (b)         parents and guardians, and members of school communities, should have access to relevant information concerning the regulation of their child’s school;

            (c)         the welfare and best interests of children is the primary consideration in the performance of the Board's functions;

            (d)         any person who works with children is obliged to protect them, respect their dignity and privacy and safeguard and promote their well-being;

            (e)         cooperation between the Minister, the Board and the school education sectors contributes to achieving the effective provision of education and early childhood services;

            (f)         successful learning is built on a foundation of rich, engaging environments and meaningful interactions in which children’s voices are listened to and acted on.

        (3)         In exercising a power or performing a function under this Act, the Board should have regard to, and seek to give effect to, the following principles:

            (a)         providers of education services and early childhood services should not be burdened by regulation more than is reasonably necessary;

            (b)         the actions of the Board in relation to minimising or responding to a particular risk should be proportionate to the potential harm posed by the risk;

            (c)         the Board should have regard to all of the circumstances of a particular provider of education services or early childhood services (including, without limiting this paragraph, the provider's history of compliance with this or any other relevant Act and any risk that the provider may not comply with this Act in the future).

Note—

The Education and Care Services National Law (South Australia) may contain further objects and principles in respect of services to which that Law applies.

Part 2—Adoption of ""Education and Care Services National Law"