Inspection of early years provision from September 08

NCMA cautiously welcomes the proposal that all early years settings should be given the opportunity to complete and submit a self-evaluation form (SEF) online. However, a number of concerns remain. Below are NCMA's responses to the consultation questions.

 

Do you agree with the proposal that all early years settings should be given the opportunity to complete and submit a self-evaluation form (SEF) online?

 

Self-assessment should be dependent upon local authorities providing training, support and guidance in advance to ensure that providers develop self-reflective practice. Many providers do not receive regular training and support and the Government and Ofsted should not assume that they will all be familiar with self-evaluation. Without proper preparation, small settings – especially childminders, where there is no staff member dedicated to management and administration – may need support with the self-assessment forms, which may unfairly prejudice the grading of a very good setting. In addition, it is crucial that the SEF is appropriate in length and detail. While it is an important part of practice, a prohibitively long or complex form will be self-defeating, as practitioners will be deterred from completing it effectively.

 

Would you complete the SEF online?

Submission of the self-assessment form online is welcome if it is an option as there are clear benefits to being able to continually update the form in light of ongoing practice. In addition, if the SEF is to form the basis for the inspection, it is important that inspectors take time to digest and understand the content in advance and come with points to discuss, an experience that is not currently universal. While completing the form online is welcome, it should not be the only choice available. Many childcare workers are not familiar with electronic submission of forms and have difficulty with the technology. NCMA would urge Ofsted to allow childcare providers to submit their forms by post if they wish.

 

Do you think further questions specifically related to EYFS are needed?

The SEF must reflect the EYFS. The version of the SEF that was circulated during the pilot did include questions on the “welfare of the children in the Early Years Foundation Stage” and set out a summary of the requirements. However, NCMA believes that if the SEF is to form the basis for inspection, and inspection is to be based on the EYFS, the EYFS must be central to the SEF.

 

Do you agree that the current arrangements of giving schools and early years settings little or no notice of routine inspections should continue once the EYFS is implemented?

 

NCMA agrees that the current system for giving schools and early years settings little or no notice of routine inspections should continue once the EYFS is implemented. This has been the practice for the past year and has generally been well received. However, NCMA would note that childminders do not always work full-time, and when they do work they often take children out of the house on trips or to play in the open. Ofsted may therefore wish to consider continuing to give childminders notice of inspections so as to ensure that inspectors’ time is not wasted.

 

Do you agree with Ofsted's proposal that when an inspection is due, but a childminder has no children on roll, the quality of early years provision should not be graded?

 

NCMA agrees that childminders that do not currently have children on the roll cannot be graded for their practice, as inspectors need to witness practice. It should be remembered that many settings may have no children on the roll for short periods, where there are many vacancies or when the provider is building up the business. Settings with no children should, therefore, have the opportunity to defer in the short term but not indefinitely. When Ofsted inspect these settings, it should be made clear in the report that no children were present and therefore only the setting and not the practice can be inspected and graded. In the event that a childminders has no children on the roll over three years, Ofsted may wish to consider discussing with the practitioner whether they wish to resign from the register before Ofsted takes action.

 

Do you agree that provision in private and voluntary sector early years settings that consistently perform well and where there are no concerns should be subject to reduced inspection?

 

NCMA recognizes that Ofsted is seeking to focus its attention on settings where there is a perceived greater risk and that as such Ofsted wishes to reduce the frequency of inspections where settings are deemed to be good. However, NCMA is concerned that some settings already operate for significant periods without inspection. NCMA would urge the Government to inspect all settings regularly. The suggestion that some settings may operate for three years between inspections because they have previously received a good grade ignores that fact that significant change can take place over a three year period. NCMA would urge Ofsted to inspect all settings as often as possible and to make sure that no setting goes without inspection for three years.

 

In addition to the above, NCMA would draw Ofsted’s attention to one additional point that was raised by NCMA members at their Annual Conference in 2007.

 

NCMA notes that Ofsted do not intend to change the inspection grading system. However, NCMA would urge Ofsted to consider how overall grading are awarded. At present, a provider that is considered "good" in most areas and "satisfactory" in one or two, they are given an "good" overall grading. However, if they are judged "outstanding" in most categories and "good" in just a couple they are not given an "outstanding" overall rating.

 

In addition, childminders that also provide early years education (EYE) may be judged "good" even if they are judged "outstanding" for all areas of care, if they are only judged "good" for the provision of EYE. Thus two childminders providing exactly the same quality of care may receive different gradings, with the one offering EYE being judged more harshly.

 

NCMA would urge Ofsted to apply a more consistent standard when judging gradings. If the overall grading is to be rounded, it should be rounded the same way at all levels. If all categories must be judged at a minimum level to achieve a grade, this too must apply across all gradings. With regards to the provision of EYE, NCMA would recommend that separate gradings be given for care and for education, so that outstanding care is recognised even if the education element still has room for improvement.

 

Source: NCMA policy team ( 24/4/2008 )