The role and performance of Ofsted

Memorandum submitted by National Childminding Association

Summary

1.1 Childminders in England are registered and inspected by Ofsted. This regulation is welcome because it enables childminding settings to be compared both with each other and with centre based care by parents, it is also valued as a mechanism for illustrating the high quality home based settings available to families in every community. However, many childminders would welcome further guidance for both inspectors and providers, to clarify what documentation is expected of them at inspection. Furthermore, many childminders believe that bespoke training for inspectors (to help them to better understand home-based childcare settings and how the EYFS is applied) could help to eliminate inconsistencies between inspectors regarding acceptable formats and levels of monitoring and recording.

Introduction

2.1 The National Childminding Association welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this inquiry.

2.2 The National Childminding Association (NCMA) is the only national charity and membership organisation that represents home-based childcare in England and Wales, delivered by registered childminders and nannies, with approximately 40,000 members. We promote quality home-based childcare so that children, families and communities can benefit from the best in childcare and education. NCMA’s vision is for every child to reach their full potential.

2.3 To achieve our vision NCMA works in partnership with:

· Children and families, so they are aware of, and have access to, high-quality, home-based childcare, play, learning and family support.

· Registered childminders and nannies to ensure they have the information, support and training they need to provide high-quality childcare.

· Government, local authorities, regulators and other organisations in England and Wales who influence the delivery of children’s services to ensure they take account of home-based childcare and the views of the profession.

Further Information

3.1 Ofsted started registering and inspecting childminding settings in 2001 and since then NCMA has worked closely with the regulatory body to ensure this process is both supportive of childminder’s continued improvement and is reflective of the uniqueness of the home-based setting.

3.2 Being registered, regulated and inspected by Ofsted equally alongside other childcare providers is welcomed by registered childminders for a variety of reasons. These include providing an opportunity to illustrate to parents their childcare setting is regulated and inspected. This quality check also gives parents peace of mind about the standard of the setting and many use Ofsted gradings and reports as a guide and influence when choosing a childcare setting.

3.3 Ofsted inspections also provide a mechanism to support childminders with their continuous improvement (particularly if no other quality improvement support is available in that childminder’s area). They believe being inspected has helped in repositioning childminding as a profession, rather than being seen as just "babysitting". Ofsted inspections give providers the opportunity to identify areas for improvement in their practice and demonstrate their commitment to continuous professional development.

3.4 As well as supporting individuals to improve, the information gathered by Ofsted and included in its local authority profiles enables authorities to target their resources where improvement is most needed. NCMA works with every local authority in England and sees these profiles used on a regular basis to inform decisions on what types of training to offer practitioners, whether to invest in a childminding network or to target effort on supporting satisfactory practitioners to improve.

3.5 NCMA would urge Ofsted to ensure that all of its inspectors have knowledge of home-based childcare practitioners and appreciate the unique nature of the setting. NCMA members repeatedly report concerns around the inconsistencies between inspections and inspectors. NCMA members have reported that the approach and outcomes of inspections vary according to the inspector’s professional background, such as a school inspector compared to an early years worker.

3.6 In addition, NCMA members report that they still lack clarity around what is expected of them in terms of the EYFS and this confusion is fuelled by the different attitudes of inspectors. Further guidance to inspectors on what is acceptable practice for assessment and observation evidence as part of the EYFS is needed. Sharing this with childminders as well as inspectors would do much to alleviate existing confusion. For example, it would give childminders the confidence to capture information on sticky notes and via photographs and know this would be acceptable to all inspectors.

3.7 Indeed, the inconsistencies are not restricted to being between inspectors but also between inspections, for example with two very similar settings receiving different comments, actions and gradings within a short time period from the same inspector. NCMA members have reported that they would welcome more advice on the evidence they need to produce to achieve specific gradings and greater direction around required actions with to improve, so they are clear what needs to be done to achieve a higher grading at their next inspection.

3.8 Childminders also report anecdotal ‘off-the-cuff’ comments from inspectors which, whilst in the minority, are demoralising, including inspectors commenting that they do not award the grading Outstanding to any childminders. Childminders are delivering the EYFS on a level playing field alongside other providers and are inspected in the same way – NCMA believes that therefore they should be able to achieve any of the inspection gradings. Evidence shows that more registered childminders have been graded Good or Outstanding since the EYFS, clearly highlighting that many inspectors do judge childminding settings fairly. However, ensuring all inspectors undergo training to fully understand a childminding setting alongside other early years settings would eliminate the prejudicial view held by some that home-based settings cannot ever be Outstanding.

3.9 NCMA would be greatly concerned by any move to increase the length of time between Ofsted inspections or to focus on more frequent inspection for just those who do not achieve good or outstanding grades. All childminders are currently inspected every three years and many feel this is already a very long period of time. Situations and quality within settings can vary over this time period and NCMA would urge the Government to maintain the current inspection structure with every childminder being inspected every three years, regardless of the outcome of their previous inspection. While recent work has supported childminders in reflecting on their practice, particularly in completing the Self Evaluation Form, regular Ofsted inspections provide an important opportunity for childminders to discuss and receive feedback on their practice which may otherwise be unavailable by any other formal quality improvement support. As previously outlined, childminders’ access to quality improvement opportunities is variable and dependent on, for example, the amount of funding that a local authority makes available for childminders’ training and development, the scheduling of training opportunities at convenient times for childminders, and childminders' access to quality improvement networks. The provision of such networks across local authorities is currently inconsistent: according to NCMA’s 2010 membership survey, 52 per cent of NCMA members are not part of a formal quality improvement scheme, with more than 1 in 10 saying that such a scheme is not available in their area. In addition, more than a quarter of those who had not attended any childcare training in the previous 12 months said that this was because training was not available locally or was not available outside their childminding hours.

3.10 NCMA strongly believes that the Self Evaluation Form (SEF) has made the inspection process more efficient for both Ofsted and the practitioner, and a move to less frequent inspection of provision, being delivered particularly by a sole practitioner, and focussed, for example, on just the welfare requirements of the EYFS would be a backwards step.

3.11 NCMA believes that extending the period of time between inspections could only be explored if there was a statutory requirement on local authorities to provide a childminding network that all childminders had the opportunity to belong to, so that this provided another mechanism to support and monitor improving practice. Childminders who join a quality improvement childminding network, such as an NCMA Children Come First network, commit to continuing professional development and are required to achieve at least a level 3 qualification. All this is supported by a dedicated Network Coordinator, who also provides childminders with guidance on best practice and support in achieving the highest standards in their setting. The benefits for childminders include increased recognition of their quality, the ability, if accredited, to offer the free entitlement to early years education and increased peer support and training opportunities.

Recommendations for action

4.1 NCMA makes the following recommendations to the Select Committee for consideration:

· All Ofsted inspectors have an understanding of, or background in, early years

· All Ofsted inspectors are trained to understand the unique nature of childminding setting

· All childminders continue to be inspected on a three year cycle

· Clear guidance should be produced for both providers and inspectors outlining the universally acceptable formats and levels of detail for capturing assessments and observations

· Ofsted inspection focuses on all aspects of the EYFS, not just the welfare requirements

October 2010