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NEWS RELEASE

8 October 2004

Charity launches new accreditation scheme to 'strengthen quality in the early years'

A leading charity in the early years and childcare sector today launched a new quality assurance scheme at a major conference in the Midlands.

The Pre-school Learning Alliance, the largest provider of early years education in England, showcased The Accreditation Scheme: Aiming for Quality before an audience of leading childcare practitioners at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham. The scheme, endorsed by the Government's Investors in Children programme, aims to raise standards in the early years, recognise high quality services and provide additional reassurance for parents. It offers a series of practical stages for pre-schools and nurseries to work towards, improving flexibility and support.

Quality Assurance schemes are voluntary programmes designed to help early years settings to develop their services to exceed the National Standards used by Ofsted in the regulation and inspection process. The Accreditation Scheme: Aiming for Quality assesses and tests settings against a number of criteria, such as:

Commenting on the launch of the new scheme, Pre-school Learning Alliance Chief Executive Steve Alexander said:

"'Quality' has long been a buzzword in education among policy makers and practitioners alike, yet there is often inadequate definition and a lack of consensus around what is meant by quality. The Accreditation Scheme: Aiming for Quality gives parents and settings a practical, tangible understanding of what quality means in early years learning. It is a rigorous programme with demanding criteria that will help to raise standards and provide additional peace of mind for parents that their children are being looked after in a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment"

"The early years sector has undergone a period of great and exciting change in recent years. The introduction of National Standards, the Foundation curriculum, the Birth to Three Matters framework and Investors in Children have all had a major impact on the way in which settings operate. Our new scheme reflects this changing policy environment and will have a positive impact on strengthening quality in the early years in the future"

Michael Freeston, Director of Training and Quality Assurance said:

"The new scheme will ensure a greater degree of flexibility for pre-schools and nurseries, as they will be able to work towards accredited status through a number of different stages that best reflects their particular circumstances. This staged approach will also involve a greater element of self assessment and reflection for settings and will celebrate success and achievement at every level"

"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".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7278 9037
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

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