Accreditation

Quality is a journey, not a destination

Most childcare settings aim to provide a high quality service of care and education which is greater than is required through regulation. Meeting the individual needs of children and their families can have a significant impact upon their health and well-being, raising aspirations and improving attainment. High quality settings have a commitment to the cycle of continuous improvement helping to raise standards and maintain the quality of their provision since the best quality services are those which are always looking to improve.

The training and the calibre of individuals working with children have long been seen as key determinants of providing quality in early years settings. The first step to measuring quality in any service is having systems to start self-evaluation and to train staff to recognise quality indicators such as ethos and value base, partnership with parents,  partnership / liaison with other agencies,employers and the community, staff, environment, curriculum / teaching / learning, children's' experience of quality provision.

To demonstrate this commitment the most effective way for groups and individuals to measure the quality they provide and to have documented evidence of quality is to be accredited through a quality assurance scheme. Accreditation demonstrates that the provider is meeting the rigorous quality standards set down by the chosen scheme through independent assessment and the awarding of the scheme's kite mark.

Accreditation:

• helps parents and carers choose the best for their child

• leads to quality outcomes for children

• improves business prospects

• helps with the recruitment of high quality committed staff.

Points to consider before embarking on an accreditation programme

• There are a wide variety of different quality assurance schemes. It is important to choose a scheme which is appropriate to the childcare offered and has clearly written materials, effective support and independent assessment.

• Groups or individuals must choose the programme most appropriate to their childcare setting and the age range they work with. Everyone involved in the process should be made aware of the implications, hard work and benefits of undertaking an accreditation scheme.  

• Groups or individuals should understand how the chosen programme improves the quality of the service and promote this with other staff, management committee and parents. A holistic approach and teamwork are required in implementing quality programmes.

• There can be a cost attached to quality programmes and other associated costs. A group may need to consider outside funding.    

• All accreditation programmes take time to implement and to develop. Time will need to be built into schedules and agreed with staff and management committees.

• Accreditation programmes should not be viewed as one off projects. Many programmes are based on progression and there is usually a renewal date for individual programmes.

“Quality is what happens when nobody is watching”(Henry Ford)