The Accreditation Scheme: Aiming for Quality, is endorsed by Investors in Children.
The scheme is made up of three stages and the PLA estimates that it will take settings around 18 months to complete.
Michael Freeston, PLA director of training and quality assurance, said, 'I am delighted that we are able to launch the new scheme at a time when the regulator is looking at the issue of standards in the early years. Quality assurance schemes play a key role in helping settings to progress beyond the minimum standards and it is crucial that they remain distinct from the regulatory and inspection process in the longer term.'
The scheme gives pre-schools and nurseries more flexibility to work towards accredited status through a number of stages that fit their circumstances.
The staged approach will also involve a greater element of self-assessment and reflection for settings. Settings must pass an unannounced visit by an assessor in order to complete the final stage of the scheme.
Settings that are already following the previous PLA quality assurance scheme will not need to transfer to the new scheme.
Ofsted's consultation on the future of early years inspections is proposing that Investors in Children-approved quality schemes are taken into account when determining the length and frequency of inspections.
In its response to the consultation, which closed at the end of September, the PLA said that it completely agreed with the shorter notice of inspection, but also wanted Ofsted to consider introducing 'no notice'
inspections for early years settings.
