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— Pre-school Learning Alliance comments on proposed changes to inspection regime

NEWS RELEASE

6 September 2004

Pre-school Learning Alliance comments on proposed changes to inspection regime

The Pre-school Learning Alliance today broadly welcomed proposed changes to the inspection of childcare, but urged Ofsted to ensure that Quality Assurance schemes remain largely independent of inspection.

The Future of Early Years Inspection — A Consultation, launched today by Ofsted, proposes five changes to the way in which it inspects childcarers.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Freeston, Director of Training and Quality Assurance said:

"We welcome Ofsted's commitment to continuing to improve the quality in all early years and childcare settings. We are encouraged that the inspection regime is subject to ongoing scrutiny to see how it can be improved in order to give reassurance to parents that their children are being cared for in a safe, stimulating environment.

The move to little or no notice inspections can help to provide this reassurance and we welcome changes to the grading scale to strengthen integration. We look forward to working with Ofsted to establish how quality assurance schemes can support the inspection process. The Alliance's scheme, endorsed by Investors in Children, helps settings to improve the quality of provision beyond the minimum standards required by Ofsted. Such schemes have a different approach and it is vital that they support, rather than replace the existing inspection process".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7833 0991
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance has 15,000 member pre-schools who look after 500,000 young children and their families in England every year. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. Its member pre-schools are based in the community and most are managed and run by parents, alongside trained staff.
  2. The Future of Early Years Inspection — A Consultation proposes five changes to the way in which Ofsted inspects childcarers relating to the notice of inspections, the inspection grading scale, the introduction of self-evaluation, the format of reports and approved quality assurance schemes. Full details can be accessed at www.ofsted.gov.uk
  3. The charity recently launched the next phase of its changing lives changing life campaign, which seeks to give all children the best possible start in life. For more information visit www.pre-school.org.uk or call 020 7833 0991
  4. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and aims to open around 30 Neighbourhood Nurseries by the end of the year
  5. Further information and all press releases are available on the Pre-school Learning Alliance's website: www.pre-school.org.uk or email pressoffice@pre-school.org.uk
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