Removal of LAs' early years quality role raises alarm

Nursery World contacted a number of local authorities for comments about the proposals.

Ofsted becomes 'the sole arbiter of quality in the early years', in the Government's 'More Great Childcare' shake-up.

Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss's report proposes ending 'duplication' in inspection. 'At the moment some local authorities also inspect early years providers who are implementing the early education programme for threeand four-year-olds as well as two-year-olds,' it says.

'We will make Ofsted inspection rating the sole test of whether a provider can offer funded early education for two-, threeand four-year-olds.' The Government is proposing changes to the statutory guidance covering the early education programme to emphasise this.

A Southampton City Council spokesperson said that it was too early to speculate what would happen to early years advisory staff and their jobs.

The council employs six full-time equivalent early years support teachers/SENCOs to support settings judged as satisfactory or inadequate by Ofsted, and to support the settings with plans for children with special educational needs. They stressed that they do not inspect settings but work with providers on these issues.

Brighton & Hove City Council credited the work of the local authority's early years team as a key factor in the high number of outstanding and good nurseries in the area. In December, the council was ranked by Ofsted as joint second in the country for having the highest proportion of good and outstanding early years settings (87 per cent of its private and voluntary nurseries, pre-schools, childminders and Sure Start children's centres have these grades. This compares with 74 per cent in England.)

A council spokesperson said, 'We employ three full time equivalent early years consultants who work together with childcare development officers to support early years providers to improve the quality of their settings.

'From our perspective, the work of the local authority has been a major contributor to raising quality. We know that our local conditions for receiving the early years free entitlement funding, and our role in quality improvement, training and support, have led to our impressive Ofsted outcomes -second in the "top 10 table".

He added, 'Despite this success, there is still a long way to go and much to do. Moving quality improvement to the inspectorate/HMI and setting-setting peer support would greatly reduce the support for quality in the sector. This is a major setback, particularly in the light of the expansion of two-year-old funding.'

Lincolnshire County Council's early years support service is contracted out to CfBT. Steph Douglas, head of service at Birth to Five, said, 'Lincolnshire County Council and CfBT are delighted with the high quality provision for early years across Lincolnshire, and the support, advice and training provided by the Birth to Five Service.

'We are determined to maintain the excellent work taking place. Members and officers will be working together to maintain the standards of service given to Early Years providers.'

Elsewhere, early years experts say that expanding Ofsted's role cannot replace the good work that early years advisers do with early years settings in providing regular, ongoing support and advice.

Judith Stevens, principal consultant at Early Learning Consultancy, said, 'Having previously held LA early years advisory roles for 12 years, national strategic roles for three and currently working with several LA early years teams, I am convinced that Ofsted and LA early years teams in no way perform the same role in monitoring, maintaining and raising quality.

'Ofsted has a role as an external inspection team, but LA teams have the "on the ground" local knowledge over time. Moreover, they can offer ongoing advice, training and support, including in setting support monitoring impact, tailored to meet local needs. There is a place for both.'

Ben Thomas, Unison national officer, said, 'Liz Truss appears to be demonising local authorities for sucking funds out of early years in her report. Many LAs provide excellent support to early years, providing training and quality support.

'Most LAs have a far greater knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of a setting than Ofsted and have established quality control measures because a snap shot inspection every four years is not enough.

'There is a huge risk of loss of expertise and local knowledge if LAs are completely excluded from their role in supporting early years settings. LAs have already been cut to the bone and any further cuts will leave many nurseries high and dry.'