Early years quality assurance (QA) schemes are becoming an increasingly popular life raft for childcare settings and practitioners seeking to stay afloat in a highly competitive market while facing up to uncertainties such as their role in children's centres.
The Investors in Children accreditation programme was launched two years ago to endorse quality assurance schemes. There are now 48 accredited schemes, and the awarding panel is scheduled to consider further applications later this year.
It has taken a few years for interest to grow among providers, but Michael Freestone, director of training and quality assurance with the Pre-School Learning Alliance, says, 'It takes some time for new initiatives to become established and build up steam in the early years sector.'
However, now seems to be the right time to get on board. Christine Goldsack, national co-ordinator for Sheffield Quality Kitemark, which is currently working on new modules for children's centres, says, 'In Sheffield, because the Kitemark has been around for five years, we have a steady number of people coming forward to do quality assurance. We are also now working with 28 local authorities across the country.'
The systematic approach involved in undertaking a QA scheme is helping practitioners to prepare for the new regime of Ofsted inspections, with their unannounced visits and self-evaluation.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, says, 'People fear the unknown and worry, "What if Ofsted knocks on my door this morning?" If you are in a QA scheme, you are demonstrating that you are achieving consistently high standards. You do not have to worry about your Ofsted inspection.'
Mr Freestone says, 'Ofsted might not require QA now, but we recognise that no doubt it will be demanding it in due course. Ofsted does require self-evaluation, and the new occupational standards also introduce self-reflection.'
Laura Henry, curriculum manager at Croydon Continuing Education and Training Service, says, 'The major concern is that the inspections are going to be unannounced. Managers and supervisors worry that they might be away or key staff might be on a course when the inspector calls.
'If you ensure that the senior management team, the deputy and third in charge and the staff are competent and know the Every Child Matters key outcomes, the inspection will not be problematic. What is the point of having lots of fantastic policies and procedures if the staff do not understand them in practice?'
Mrs Goldsack adds, 'The self-evaluation page in the Ofsted inspection framework is minimal. It doesn't really give settings any guidance on how to conduct self-evaluation. I think some people are going to need help with it. When we started doing quality assurance work we found self-evaluation was something new for some providers.
'Our Kitemark QA scheme does fit nicely with the inspection framework. We are currently doing some work so it will link between the five outcomes of the inspection and our QA scheme.
'Our main thrust is to ensure that providers don't see these things as separate boxes but can view Birth to Three Matters, the Foundation Stage, the Oftsed inspection framework, child protection, good practice and business management and quality assurance as all part and parcel of the same thing. It does involve extra work, but it also assists and supports them.'
Management tool
Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, says, 'Registered childminders undertaking quality assurance schemes have found that self-evaluation has worked well in the past. We are offering guidance for those who are new to self-evaluation, and we believe the process will encourage more to realise that completing a quality assurance programme, such as the NCMA's Quality First, is within their grasp.'
Working through a QA scheme provides a setting with an effective management tool, says Janine Collishaw, who owns two nurseries in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and conducted a research project on childcare QA schemes at Reading University.
'You need to look at these things and see what they are asking you to do and ask yourself how it is going to help your individual nursery.
'A QA scheme is a selling point. The nursery business is very competitive and people think this helps. You have to weigh up the time and costs involved. If you are able to get funding from your local authority, it is an excellent working tool; if you can't, it is a jolly expensive one.'
