Consultation response on inspections
The Government has released the
Outcome of the consultation on inspecting provision in the Early
Years Foundation Stage from September 2008.
NCMA had encouraged registered childminders to respond to the
consultation as they are directly
affected during inspections by Ofsted.
The majority of childminders who responded to the consultation
supported the Government's proposals, including:
- Plans to inspect the EYFS
- Use of the self-evaluation form (which "will not be
mandatory")
- Online completion of the self-evaluation form
- Recommendations for improvement, even for outstanding
settings
- Grading for wrap-around care
- No gradings for settings where there are no children on the
roll
There was recognition in the outcome of the difficulties of
unannounced visits to childminders. The issue of reduced-tariff
inspections for higher-graded settings caused some controversy, and
is dealt with in paragraphs 9 and 10 on p6.
This is largely in line with NCMA's own views, as expressed in
NCMA's consultation response of 24 April
08.
Source: NCMA Policy
Team ( 11/6/2008 )