Ofsted inspection results have been included to show how well providers meet the new National Standards. Parents must be confident that providers accredited under the Investors in Children scheme meet Ofsted inspection requirements.
From April 2003, Ofsted plans to grade all daycare provision in answer to the question 'How good is the provision?' Children Act inspection reports would judge the quality of care and learning as, for example, 'very good', 'good', 'satisfactory', or 'unsatisfactory' in meeting National Standards. Points for an Investors in Children rating might be awarded, for example, according to Ofsted judgements of how well providers are meeting the National Standards.
2 Accreditation by an approved quality assurance scheme
The consultation proposals suggest that to get an Investors in Children award, providers would need to go though an approved quality assurance (QA) scheme. QA schemes are an important tool in the drive to improve quality in early years settings. Ofsted inspections are outcome-based; they say something about the quality of provision being provided at the time of inspection. QA schemes typically focus more on the processes providers have in place to ensure the continuing development of quality and promote quality by encouraging reflective practice and continuous improvement.
The number of QA schemes available to providers has grown rapidly over the last few years. More than 50 different national and local accreditation schemes are currently available. Investors in Children proposes bringing different QA schemes under a single umbrella, to avoid the potential for confusion among so many schemes. If a QA scheme wanted to be included in the Investors in Children initiative, it would need to meet certain standards. The consultation document asks for views on what those standards should be. Once QA schemes that wanted to be part of Investors in Children had met the standards, providers would have a choice of which scheme to use, while parents, providers and EYDCPs could be confident that schemes conform to some national standard.
Points for an Investors in Children rating might be awarded, for example, according to whether provider met their QA scheme's accreditation criteria but had to plan for further improvements, met all accreditation criteria and exceeded some, or exceeded all accreditation criteria.
3 The qualifications, education and training of staff
Research shows that staff qualifications in early years settings have a major impact on the quality of provision and outcomes for children. Well-trained and qualified staff are also rated as important by parents. The proposals for Investors in Children include qualifications, education and training as a third element of Investors in Children, building on (but going beyond) the requirements in the National Standards for the regulation of day care and childminding.
Points for an Investors in Children rating might be awarded, for example, according to whether the provision met qualification requirements of National Standards, exceeded qualification requirements of National Standards in certain defined ways, such as higher qualifications or experience for the person in charge, supervisor and other staff, or further exceeded qualification requirements of National Standards.
Adding up points for an Investors in Children rating
Scores from each of the three elements described would be added up to determine the overall Investors in Children rating. Some elements could be given a higher weighting than others.
To be eligible for an Investors in Children rating, a setting would have to score minimum points in all three areas. So, for example, a setting would have to be judged at least satisfactory by Ofsted, be accredited through an approved QA scheme, and meet National Standards for staff qualifications. By exceeding these standards, settings could score more points, and at certain thresholds they would achieve a higher Investors in Children quality rating.
