Promoting high quality early childhood education and care services: Beyond risk management, performative constructions of regulation

Whilst regulation is utilized by governments in Australia and internationally as a means of promoting quality standards in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, a growing body of literature is critical of the detrimental effect of this regulation. Drawing on our investigation into early childhood teachers' perceptions of the impact of regulation on quality practices we suggest that the way regulation is constructed limits its capacity to effect high quality standards. After problematizing the use of risk management and performative constructs of regulation, we call for regulatory reform that transcends these dominant constructions. We contend that a transformed system of regulatory accountability underpinned by notions of 'a decent and non-humiliating society', socially just policies and professional trust presents as a useful way forward.