Family day care has two sets of numbers. Co-ordinators (regulation 123A): in a service’s first 12 months, 1 full-time equivalent co-ordinator for every 15 educators or part of 15; after 12 months, 1 FTE for up to 25 educators, plus 0.2 FTE for every further 5 educators or part of 5. Children per educator (regulation 124): no more than 7 children at a residence or venue at any one time, of whom no more than 4 can be preschool age or under; at a residence, the educator’s own children and other children under 13 count when no other adult is present and caring for them. The approved provider can approve more in writing only in the exceptional circumstances listed in regulation 124(6). Enter your numbers below.
A free calculator for family day care approved providers: the co-ordinator FTE the service needs, and a check of one educator’s numbers on a given day.
Ask WIDEN Law in your own words, for example whether a visiting educator’s children count towards the limit at a shared venue, and get an answer cited to the National Law or Regulations so you can check the source. 14-day free trial, no card.
Start the 14-day free trial, no card →| Educators | First 12 months | 12 months or more |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 | 1 FTE | 1 FTE |
| 16 to 25 | 2 FTE | 1 FTE |
| 26 to 30 | 2 FTE | 1.2 FTE |
| 31 to 35 | 3 FTE | 1.4 FTE |
| 46 to 50 | 4 FTE | 2 FTE |
The examples in regulation 123A itself cover 1 to 15 and 16 to 30 educators for a new service, and 1 to 25, 26 to 30 and 31 to 35 for an established one. The other rows apply the same formula.
For the wider rules, see family day care regulations and residents and visitors.
No more than 7 at any one time, of whom no more than 4 can be preschool age or under. At a residence, the educator's own children and other children under 13 count if no other adult is present and caring for them (regulation 124).
In a service's first 12 months, 1 full-time equivalent co-ordinator for every 15 educators or part of 15. After 12 months, 1 FTE for up to 25 educators plus 0.2 FTE for every further 5 educators or part of 5 (regulation 123A).
Only with the approved provider's written approval in exceptional circumstances: all the children are siblings, a child in need of protection for whom the educator is the best person, or a rural or remote area with no alternative service (regulation 124(5) and (6)).
WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.
14-day free trial, no card →This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.