Deadline: 25-Sep-20
NSW Government is accepting applications for the Quality Learning Environments (QLE) program 2020.
The Quality Learning Environments (QLE) program aims to support eligible early childhood education services to improve their learning environments to positively impact experiences and outcomes for preschool aged children.
The QLE program allows not-for-profit community preschools (center based and mobile) and not-for-profit long day cares to apply for grants of up to $15,000 (ex GST). Grants can be used to purchase resources and activities which improve physical or educational learning environments. This may include quality improvement initiatives to meet the needs of services impacted by bush fire and recent severe weather events or other emergency situations such as COVID-19.
Funding Information
Applications can be made for grants up to a total of $15,000 (ex GST) per service.
Categories
Eligible services can apply for funding under the following categories:
- minor capital works – renovations and repairs to existing buildings or premises
- infrastructure items – large items that form part of the physical environment of the service (such as mud kitchens, outdoor sports equipment, large furniture items or portable air conditioners)
- incursions and/or excursions – the delivery of a specialised education program by an external provider within the service or outside of the service.
Services are only eligible to apply for QLE funding once per service approval (for mobile preschools, you can only apply under the Service Approval of your parent service, not the mobile venues).
Application Requirements
Applications should include:
- a request for up to three resources or activities to a total of $15,000 (ex GST)
- a description of the requested resource or activity
- one quote per resource or activity, including an ABN and the total cost with GST clearly indicated
- a description of how the requested resource or activity will improve the physical or educational learning environment by supporting the objectives in the service’s Self-Assessment documentation or Quality Improvement Plan and the National Quality Standards
- a description of how the funding will be used to improve the learning environment for the primary benefit of preschool aged children
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding through the 2020 QLE program, a service must meet the following criteria:
- be a not-for-profit community preschool (centre-based or mobile) or not-for-profit long day care (as identified in the National Quality Agenda IT System or where other sufficient evidence is provided upon request; and including local government managed services) operating in NSW;
- be an approved early childhood education and care service under the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations or the Supplementary Provisions Act deliver an early childhood education program designed by a degree qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with The Early Years Learning Framework under the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education
- be registered, or be willing to register, with the Department of Education (the department)’s Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS)
- accept and comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Early Childhood Education Grants Program.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2XnyQaH