Quality Assurance
What are quality assurance schemes?
Quality assurance schemes can be viewed as programmes of continual development for early years and childcare settings. These are designed to promote the highest quality experiences of care, play and education by encouraging childcare providers to think carefully about what, how and why they do this - 'self-reflective practice'.
Quality Assurance schemes are undertaken voluntarily.
What is Investors in Children (IiC)?
Investors in Children endorsement is a government initiative designed to help nurseries, childminders, out-of-school clubs, crèches and playgroups find the best quality assurance schemes in the early education and childcare sector.
A list of Investors in Children endorsed quality assurance schemes can be found at: www.surestart.gov.uk/improvingquality/guidance/investorsinchildren/
What are the benefits of IiC endorsed quality assurance schemes?
For children- Develops, encourages and maintains high standards of care and education for the benefit of children
- Positively promotes cognitive, language, social and emotional development.
- Enhances partnership with parents by encouraging participation in their child's care and learning to ensure the individual needs of children are met.
- Childminders are regularly monitored
- Promotes increased retention of staff by delivering positive benefits for staff motivation and empowerment
- Creates a positive culture of continuous improvement, increasing staff involvement and encouraging professional development through training and reflection on practice.
Investors in Children endorsed quality assurance schemes can guide parents and carers looking for good quality childcare. Childcare providers that have completed an IiC endorsed scheme will be able to demonstrate they provide good quality education and childcare over and above the national standards for under eights daycare and childminding as inspected by Ofsted.
How do you know if a childcare centre has completed an IiC endorsed scheme?
Talk to the childcare provider to find out if they are currently participating in a quality assurance scheme. If they have completed a quality assurance scheme ask to see their certificate. Alternatively contact the Children's Information Service on 020 8735 5868 to request a current listing.
How can childcare providers find out more?Providers thinking about starting a quality assurance scheme or just wanting to know more, can come to our workshop, 'Introduction to quality assurance schemes in early years childcare and play'.
The workshops, which are held termly, look at what quality assurance schemes are, the benefits for childcare settings and choosing the right scheme. Alternatively contact the quality assurance officer to arrange a meeting.
The Investors in Children Quality Assurance Schemes leaflet (pdf) provides further information on the financial and practical support available to childcare providers who wish to undertake an IiC endorsed quality assurance scheme.
ContactsContact the quality assurance officer Janina Perera to find out more.
Tel: 020 8753 2433
