What is quality childcare?
In the finding childcare section, we set out the steps that will help you find the right childcare provider for you and your child. In this section, you will find out a bit more about the importance of choosing a childcare provider that is considered to be “good quality” and how their quality can be measured.
OfSTED registers and inspections
OfSTED is the official government agency which regulates and inspects Early Years childcare providers and schools.
Your childcare provider should be registered on one or more of the following OfSTED registers:
- The Early Years Register (EYR) - if caring for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday
- The Childcare Register (CCR) - if caring for children from the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage to the end of a child’s seventh year.
Settings not required to register on either the EYR or the CCR, can opt to become registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register (VCR). This includes settings who care for children aged over eight or when children are cared for in their own home e.g. by a nanny. Registration on the VCR means that parents/carers can still apply for the Childcare Element of Working and Child Tax Credit to help them in meeting their childcare costs on the same terms as if they were using a setting registered on the CCR or EYR. (see our webpage “Paying for Childcare” for more information).
OfSTED will inspect all providers that register on the EYR within seven months of the date of their registration and then at least once in every three year period.
They will also inspect a random sample of providers who are registered on the CCR and VCR. They will inspect all providers on the CCR where a complaint has been made that relates to the conditions of registration or any conditions of registration that have been imposed. Inspections are carried out with little or no notice.
As a result of the inspection they are given one of four gradings:
- Outstanding – exceptional provision which is way ahead of the norm and which is highly effective at making sure that children make significant progress towards their Early Learning Goals given their starting points
- Good – strong provision in which children are well care for and which is successful in making sure that children make good progress towards their Early Learning Goals given their starting points
- Satisfactory – the standard of care is acceptable. The provision is sound but could be better. Children’s progress towards the Early Learning Goals is steady but slow given their starting points.
- Inadequate – category one. The standard of the care is not good enough. Children do not make enough progress towards their Early Learning Goals. One or more of the requirements of the EYFS are not being met. The provider will be given a list of actions which must be carried out by a given date. OfSTED may visit again to check that their recommendations are being carried out and the next full inspection will take place within six to twelve months.
- Inadequate - category two. The poor quality of the provision is cause for concern. Children are not safe-guarded and make little or no progress towards their Early Learning Goals. The provider will be issued with either a Welfare Rights Notice or a Notice of Improvement which outlines the improvements that need to be made with immediate effect. In rare cases, where children are deemed to be at risk of harm, OfSTED will suspend or cancel the provider’s registration.
In considering which grading to award the provider, the inspector will consider:
- How well the provider meets the individual needs of every child in the Early Years Foundation Stage
- The quality of the leadership and management of the setting
- The outcomes of the children in the Early Years Foundation Stage
- How the provider evaluates their service and uses this to promote continuous improvement.
Wherever possible you should be looking to use a childcare provider that has received a grading of at least “good”. You can obtain a copy of the inspection report from the childcare provider themselves or by visiting the OfSTED website.
If, at any time, you have any concerns about the quality of the care that your child is receiving or about whether or not your provider is meeting the terms of their registration, you can make a complaint to OfSTED by calling 0300 123 46 66 or by us on 01724 296629.
What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
All settings caring for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday, and therefore registered on the Early Years register, must also meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS).
The EYFS framework supports childcare providers in working closely with children and families to promote the child’s development and learning through play and to help them achieve as much as they can in their early lives.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is based on four themes which are supported by the following principles:
- Unique child - where ‘every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.’
- Positive relationships - where ‘children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.’
- Enabling environments - where ‘the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning.’
- Learning and development - where ‘children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.’
(EYFS 2007)
The EYFS ensures that childcare providers offer a range of activities tailored to each individual child’s needs and ability. Your child will be able to develop at their own pace, by having fun, making friends and learning as they play. They will become confident, secure children who, when the time comes are better prepared for starting school at statutory school age.
The EYFS is all about putting your child’s individual needs at the heart of everything. Your child will do best if you and your childcare setting work together.
In a high quality setting, the people working with your child will pick up on his/her interests and abilities, and will build on them through play. They will be interested to hear about what has sparked your child’s imagination at home so they can build on this at the setting.
They will always be happy to discuss your child’s progress with you and will always make time to speak to you when you pickup/drop off your child.
Staff qualifications and training
Well trained staff and childminders who seek to continually develop their understanding and knowledge of childcare practice are key to providing high quality care to children.
Ask the people who are working with your child about the qualifications they hold and the training they have attended or are planning to attend in the future.
North Lincolnshire Council’s childcare and workforce teams run regular training courses for staff working in childcare settings and your staff member or childminder should be able to tell you about the courses they have attended and how they have helped them to think about their practice.
Steps to Quality
North Lincolnshire Council runs its own quality assurance scheme for childcare providers called “Steps to Quality”.
Making sure you leave your child in a safe, secure and stimulating environment is paramount in every parents mind when choosing a childcare setting.
Parents, quite rightly, have high expectations of their childcare providers, and they expect the best care and education for their child.
The councils Steps to Quality scheme aims to ensure childcare providers throughout North Lincolnshire are meeting that high standard.
Steps to Quality is a unique scheme where childcare providers themselves look at the service they provide against agreed quality standards.
Taking time to reflect on their own practice means that staff are able to consider how they care and support children so they can grow, develop and learn through play.
Childcare providers work through three progressive steps to evidence and develop their practice and support OfSTED requirements. By reaching a step on the scheme, a childcare provider is able to show parents that they are committed to providing quality childcare.
For more information please contact the Steps to Quality coordination team on 01724 297953.