The Government's proposals for the new Ofsted 'care' inspections have
provoked accusations of a lowering of standards, says Ruth Thomson
The Government stands accused of lowering standards in childcare following the release of the proposed standards on which the new arm of Ofsted will base its 'care' inspections from September 2001.
'What the Government is trying to do is increase provision, but it's lowering standards to achieve that, and that's totally unacceptable,' says managing director of Child Base nursery chain Michael Thompson. 'It's an opportunity missed.'
The 14 proposed standards will apply to five areas of childcare:
- full daycare (for example, day nurseries, children's centres and some family centres)
- sessional daycare
- out-of-school care
- childminding, and
- creches
The standards are presented in a modular format, each with a headline and supporting criteria, which have been adjusted in each module to take account of the different type of provision and children's varying needs.
Primary among the criticisms relating to full daycare is the apparent lowering of qualifications required for qualified status. The Children Act states that 'at least 50 per cent of staff should be qualified', which most local authorities take to mean NVQ3 or equivalent.
That is now lowered to 50 per cent of staff having 'a level 2 qualification appropriate to caring for children'.
National Day Nurseries Association network co-ordinator Karen Walker says, 'The Government is dumbing down because it knows there is a major shortage of childcare workers, and if it is to meet its National Childcare Strategy targets, it says it is going to have to recruit 83,000 staff. But we want well-qualified staff. Research has shown that the more training and the more qualifications, the better the childcare will be.'
Concerns about qualifications extend to those of nursery managers, as the guidelines specify only that 'the person in charge has at least a level 3 qualification', raising the danger, says Walker, that an 18-year-old could be left in charge of a nursery. 'The standards should have stated a minimum level of experience,' she says.
Pre-School Learning Alliance training and quality assurance director Pat Dench shares the unease: 'Our initial concern is that the standards are less strong than in earlier drafts. It feels the Government drive to achieve a highly-qualified workforce is slipping.'
Smoking and smacking top the National Childminding Association's list of complaints, both of which are permissable with parental approval under the standards but 'can never be acceptable childcare practice', according to the NCMA.
There is concern too that the standards will not apply to the independent sector. 'It's a real worry,' says Walker, pointing to the large number of independent schools extending provision to ever-younger children and even setting up baby units.
Nor will the standards in their current form be applied to the maintained sector, though an Ofsted spokesperson has stated that areas covered by them will probably be integrated into the Section 10 inspection system.
The Government has responded to all concerns raised. Smoking and smacking with parental permission has been justified on the grounds of parental choice. 'We're keen not to intrude on the private lives of families,' says a DfEE spokeswoman.
Employment and equal opportunities minister Margaret Hodge, in a tense head-to-head with Walker on Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour', confirmed the Government was in consultation with the independent sector - though the NDNA has been lobbying for change for years.
As for the key issue of qualifications, a DfEE spokesperson says, 'It's important to remember that these are minimum standards, and in the consultation we have asked whether people want to increase the proportion of qualified staff to 75 per cent.'
Yet all is not negative. Kids Club Network director Anne Longfield welcomes the move towards building inspections around a set of standards common to all childcare provision, believing it will lead to 'a more flexible and dynamic process' and so end the sometimes tick-box approach to inspections under the Children Act.
Welcome too will be the end to local authorities' varying interpretations of current requirements, a constant frustration to childcare providers across the sector.
'We welcome national standards because they will make inspections consistent throughout,' says Longfield, pointing to the inflexbility of some local authorities and the lack of regulation and support from others.
A common inconsistency for private nurseries was in space per child, which has been reduced slightly:
- from 3.7m2 to 3.5m2 for children aged nought to two
- from 2.8m2 to 2.5m2 for children aged two to three
- from 2.3m2 to 2m2 for children aged three to five.
For newcomers to the nursery market, the Government estimates this reduction in space will result in savings of 100 to 350 per child, depending on the age of the child and in which area the nursery is based.
Walker believes the reduction is minimal but welcomes the fact that the ratios will be applied nationally, ending cases where some local authorities insist that space taken up by cots, tables and chairs be additional to the Children Act requirements.
Now it is up to the sector to respond to the proposals - the consultation process ends on 31 October. NW
Further information
Copies of the consultation pack are available from DfEE Publications on 0845 602 2260 or fax: 0845 603 3360. The documents will also be available soon on www.dfee.gov.uk/daycare
Proposed national standards
1 Suitable person - adults providing daycare, looking after children or having supervised access to them are suitable to do so.
2 Organisation - providers meet required adult:child ratios and organise space and resources to meet children's needs effectively.
3 Care and learning - providers meet children's individual care needs and promote their welfare. They plan and provide a broad range of activities to develop children's emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.
4 Physical environment - the premises are safe, secure and suitable for their purpose. They provide adequate space in an appropriate location, are welcoming and have the facilities for a range of activities to promote development.
5 Equipment - furniture, equipment and toys are provided which are appropriate for their purpose and help to create an accessible and stimulating environment. They are of suitable design and condition, well maintained and conform to standards.
6 Safety - the provider takes steps to promote safety within the setting and on outings, and ensures proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents.
7 Health - the provider promotes the good health of children and takes positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures when they are ill.
8 Food and drink - children are provided with regular drinks and food in adequate quantities for their needs. Food and drink is properly prepared, nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements.
9 Equal opportunities - the provider and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.
10 Special needs (including special educational needs and disabilities) - the provider is aware that some children may have special needs and ensures that appropriate action is taken when such a child is identified or admitted to the provision. Steps are taken to promote the welfare and development of this child in consultation with the parents.
11 Behaviour management - adults looking after children in the provision are able to manage a wide range of children's behaviour in a way that promotes their welfare and development.
12 Working in partnership with parents and carers - the provider and staff work in partnership with parents to meet the needs of the children, both individually and as a group. Information is shared.
13 Child protection - the provider complies with local protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the provision are able to put the procedures into practice.
14 Documentation - records, policies and procedures that are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision, or to promote the welfare, care and learning of children are maintained. Records about individual children are shared with the child's parents.