The only area where a smaller majority was in favour was on the proposal to take approved quality assurance schemes into account when deciding on length and frequency of inspection. This is not, therefore, being incorporated into the new system coming into effect in April next year.
This could turn out to be a missed opportunity, and several organisations are protesting strongly. Having set up a system for approving quality assurance schemes, and encouraging organisations to provide them, it would seem a constructive move to take achieving QA status into account in inspections.
There is a danger that inspections only ensure adherence to minimum standards, when we need to support true quality. Considering the recent concerns over childcare practices highlighted in the media, and given that there is so much expansion and change going on in the early years sector, every opportunity to promote high quality should be seized.
