top rated childcare centres in australia: what the ratings really mean
last updated: april 2026
Rachel Tanaka is a paediatric nurse and mother of one from Perth. she writes about infant health, safe sleep, immunisation, and childhood illnesses for mini mode.
When parents search for the "top rated" childcare centre in Australia, they usually mean one thing: which centres have the highest government quality rating? The answer comes down to the National Quality Standard (NQS) — and specifically, the centres rated Exceeding NQS or Excellent.
But the rating alone doesn't tell the full story. In this guide, we'll break down what "top rated" actually means, how many centres hold the highest ratings in each state, and how to find the best options near you.
what makes a "top rated" centre
Every approved childcare service in Australia is assessed against the National Quality Standard by ACECQA (the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority). There are seven quality areas covering things like educational programs, children's health and safety, staffing, and leadership.
After assessment, each centre receives one of five ratings:
- Excellent — the highest possible rating, awarded nationally to centres that demonstrate exceptional practice
- Exceeding NQS — goes beyond the standard in at least four of the seven quality areas
- Meeting NQS — meets all seven quality areas
- Working Towards NQS — has not yet met one or more areas
- Significant Improvement Required — serious concerns identified
When people talk about "top rated" childcare, they're generally referring to the Exceedingtier. The Excellent rating exists but is held by fewer than 100 services nationally — it's a separate application process and most high-quality centres never pursue it.
how many centres are exceeding in each state
Roughly 5,680 approved childcare services across Australia currently hold an Exceeding NQS rating. Here's how they're spread across states and territories.
| state / territory | approx. exceeding centres |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | ~1,900 |
| Victoria | ~1,600 |
| Queensland | ~1,050 |
| Western Australia | ~500 |
| South Australia | ~350 |
| ACT | ~130 |
| Tasmania | ~100 |
| Northern Territory | ~50 |
These numbers shift as centres are reassessed — some move up, some move down. The ACECQA register is the official source and we pull from it regularly to keep our directory current.
the mini mode score — a deeper look
The NQS rating is a solid starting point, but it doesn't capture everything parents care about. That's why we built the mini mode score — a 10-point composite rating that layers extra data on top of the government assessment.
The mini mode score factors in the NQS rating (worth up to 5 points), the range of services offered, the centre's capacity, whether a phone number is listed, and whether the centre runs an integrated preschool or kindergarten program. It's designed to give you a single number you can use to shortlist centres before visiting in person.
how to find top-rated centres in your suburb
Our childcare directory lists every approved centre in Australia. You can filter by suburb, postcode, or state to see only the centres near you — sorted by their mini mode score so the highest-rated options surface first.
Jump straight to your state:
- New South Wales childcare centres
- Victoria childcare centres
- Queensland childcare centres
- Western Australia childcare centres
does "exceeding" guarantee the best experience?
Not necessarily. The NQS assessment is a snapshot — it captures how a centre performed during a specific assessment window. A lot can change between assessments: educators leave, management turns over, new rooms open.
A centre rated Meeting NQS with a stable team of experienced educators, low turnover, and strong relationships with families can genuinely be a better day-to-day experience for your child than an Exceeding centre that's had significant staff changes since its last assessment.
The rating matters — it's the most rigorous quality signal we have — but it's one input, not the whole picture. Talk to other parents. Visit at drop-off time. Ask about educator retention. Watch how the staff interact with the children already in the room.
frequently asked questions
what does exceeding NQS mean for a childcare centre?
Exceeding NQS means the centre has been assessed against the National Quality Standard and goes beyond what is expected in at least four of the seven quality areas. It is the second-highest rating a centre can receive, after Excellent.
how many childcare centres in australia have an exceeding rating?
Approximately 5,680 approved childcare services across Australia currently hold an Exceeding NQS rating. The largest numbers are in New South Wales (~1,900) and Victoria (~1,600).
is an exceeding rating the only thing that matters when choosing childcare?
No. The NQS rating is one useful signal, but it does not capture everything. Educator turnover, staff-to-child ratios on the day, the centre's food program, and your child's individual temperament all matter. A Meeting centre with stable, experienced educators can be a better fit than an Exceeding centre with high staff turnover.
next steps
Start by searching your area in our directory. Every centre shows its NQS rating and mini mode score, so you can quickly identify the top-rated options near you and dig into the details before booking a tour.