Nursery World - Playgroups devise quality scheme

The Playgroup Network (PGN) is piloting its own quality assurance scheme to put forward for accreditation by the Government's Investors in Children standard. Most PGN members had voted informally against existing accreditation schemes at the network's annual general meeting and conference.

Most PGN members had voted informally against existing accreditation schemes at the network's annual general meeting and conference.

But former chairwoman Liz McDermott said, 'We had already taken a decision that if we were to go for a quality scheme we would want something recognised nationally.' The Cleveland PGN is currently putting the scheme together.

Ms McDermott said there was concern among PGN members that the Government was putting pressure on the childcare sector by introducing too many changes too quickly.

She said, 'We're not against improving quality. What we are against is this continuous moving of goalposts.'

She suggested that settings should be offered extra resources as an incentive to take part in the Investors in Children scheme. 'There is not enough money available for the sustainability of good provision. It would be wonderful if there was some carrot and settings could get some revenue funding on the back of it. That would be the best incentive for better provision, so that playgroups weren't constantly wondering if they will be able to stay open.'

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