Nursery World - Star ratings 'will lead to inequality'

Early years organisations have warned the Government that its plans for a star rating system for daycare in England will deepen inequalities between providers rather than improve quality and create confusion rather than clarity for parents. In its response to the Government's Investors in Childcare (IiC) consultation, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) accused the Department for Education and Skills of using a 'carrot and stick' approach and of foisting 'another new initiative on an already overburdened sector'.

In its response to the Government's Investors in Childcare (IiC) consultation, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) accused the Department for Education and Skills of using a 'carrot and stick' approach and of foisting 'another new initiative on an already overburdened sector'.

The Government plans to introduce the star system this autumn. Providers will be awarded one to three stars based on three elements - the result of Ofsted inspections, accreditation by an approved quality assurance scheme and the qualifications of providers.

But the NDNA argued that if the IiC is to award points partly based on the outcomes of Ofsted inspections, 'then the scheme cannot be launched before this information is available, which will be at least April 2004'. It called on the Government to give Ofsted time to introduce the national standards and allow EYDCPs to work towards their quality assurance targets.

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