News

OfSTED announce new quality gradings
OfSTED announce new quality gradings
Reclaiming and reviewing children's play in the UK
UN Criticise Childminder's Smacking
Sure Start Unit Launched

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
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20 January 2003 - OfSTED announce new quality gradings

Ofsted is to bring in a revised inspection system for all registered childcare providers such as childminders, nursery day care, creches, out of school clubs and care on holiday play schemes.

It is also moving to a two-year inspection programme giving priority to provision which is newly registered or where there have been complaints or concerns recorded during the previous inspection.

In the two-year programme between 2003 and 2005, Ofsted also intends to conduct unannounced inspections of those settings in need of improvement. Such settings could be inspected more frequently than annually, whereas those that have performed well in their first inspection will be inspected within two years.

During this next inspection programme, as well as assuring compliance with the Government’s National Standards for the provision of childcare, Ofsted will also introduce simple and effective quality gradings of “good”, “satisfactory” and “unsatisfactory”.

David Bell, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector said: “These steps are being introduced to give an even higher priority to safeguarding the interests of young children being cared for by others, and as a means of focusing inspection resources on those where there is need of improvement. We will also ensure that the majority of providers who are doing a good job are inspected appropriately.

“Both the emphasis on quality and differentiating the frequency of inspection according to need have been at the heart of Ofsted’s work in schools and other institutions. I am delighted that these approaches are now being extended to our crucial work in the childcare sector.”

Ofsted’s new framework for the regulation of early years’ childcare providers is being published today and sent to early years organisations for comment, with responses invited by the end of February 2003.

Ofsted is required to complete the inspection of all of the 100,000 childcare providers previously registered with local authorities, by the end of March 2003. Ofsted became responsible for the regulation of childcare on 1 September 2001.

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04 January 2003 - OfSTED announce new quality gradings

This week Hempsall Consultancies launch a new research package for the monitoring and evaluation of NOF out of school childcare. Partnerships leading consortium bids need to ensure that the impact of NOF funded provision is measured for parents and children. Our monitoring programme enables Partnerships to asssess accurately the economic and social impact of out of school childcare. It also collects qualitative information to support the hard data. Contact us for more details.

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04 January 2003 - Reclaiming and reviewing children's play in the UK

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Education Minister Catherine Ashton have launched a review of children’s play across the United Kingdom, to be chaired by the Rt Hon Frank Dobson MP.

The review will identify existing high quality play opportunities and facilities for children and young people aged 0-16; promote good practice and develop quality standards; and make recommendations about how these can best be extended to meet the needs of children, families and local communities. High quality, safe and stimulating play opportunities can improve children’s personal development and health, give them the freedom and independence to learn valuable lessons in life, and provide them with attractive, accessible facilities that offer more than just hanging around the streets. The review is being jointly sponsored by DCMS and DfES and is being led by Tim Gill, the director of the Children’s Play Council.

Announcing the start of the Review at Coram’s Fields, a showcase children’s play area in central London, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: “This Review is much needed – we must look to reclaim for children and young people a part of their childhood that is in real danger of being lost. Too many play facilities are run-down, in the wrong place, or simply too dull to keep children’s interest. “Children need quality space to learn how to look after themselves as they grow up. We are all very aware of the importance of ensuring the safety of children in public places, especially in the light of recent tragic events. It is also vital that young people are given a degree of independence as they get older. “Young people want to play and spend time outside and it is important that we provide suitable spaces for them. Alongside learning more about themselves and each other, play facilities will help keep children fit and healthy, help tackle the growing issue of obesity and provide parents with places where they are happy to let their children spend their free time.” Education Minister Catherine Ashton backed this, saying: “Active children tend to be happy children. We must ensure that children are given opportunities to play out in safe places with stimulating facilities in their local communities, childcare or early years settings and during their school breaks because the fun of playing out is an essential part of early physical and emotional development. “Playing together encourages children to understand and respect difference. It encourages their curiosity and creativity, gives them a sense of self control so important for building resilience in life and makes them more confident. “Play is a such an obvious and natural part of childhood yet too many children are missing out. This Review will investigate where the gaps are.” The Rt Hon Frank Dobson MP, who is Chair of the Coram’s Fields Trust, said: “I was delighted when I was asked to chair this Review because I believe that all children need the opportunity to play and to do it safely. Enjoyable play is both a part of childhood and a part of growing up. All children need the opportunity both for organised play and, equally important, for just larking about. “Safe havens like Coram’s Fields aren’t just good for children and young people. They are also good for their parents who can feel secure in the knowledge that their off-spring are not in harm’s way. “Too many children, particularly in deprived neighbourhoods, don’t have the top quality places to play that they are entitled to expect. This review should make a start on the long process of putting that right.” The review of children's play opportunities will also link to the wider agenda of how we can improve the quality of our public spaces - the streets, parks and green spaces that make up the local neighbourhood. It is a major stepping-stone in considering the play needs of children and young people within their local environment. It will also link with Government initiatives such as Sure Start, the National Childcare Strategy and the expansion of early years education.

www.dfes.gov.uk

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04 January 2003 - UN Criticise Childminder's Smacking

The UK's position on allowing childminders to smack the children in their care has raised concern at the United Nations. The UN committee on the rights of the child published a report last week looking into the progress Britain has made on children's rights since signing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991.

The committee welcomed the fact that the National Assembly for Wales had adopted regulations prohibiting corporal punishment in all forms of daycare, including childminding, but said it was 'very concerned' that such legislation was not yet in place in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Sue Owen, director of the Early Childhood Unit at the National Children's Bureau, said, 'This will be welcomed by the early years sector because it is well known that the entire sector is campaigning on this issue, particularly the childminders themselves.'

The UN committee also said it deeply regretted that the British Government had persisted in retaining the defence of 'reasonable chastisement' and had taken no significant action towards outlawing all corporal punishment of children in the family. The report added, 'The committee is of the opinion that governmental proposals to limit rather than to remove the "reasonable chastisement" defence do not comply with the principles and provisions of the Convention, particularly since they constitute a serious violation of the dignity of the child. 'Moreover, they suggest that some forms of corporal punishment are acceptable and therefore undermine educational measures to promote positive and non-violent discipline.'

The committee urged the Government to adopt legislation removing the 'reasonable chastisement' defence and to prohibit all corporal punishment in the family and in any other contexts. It also called for the promotion of 'positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline and respect for children's equal right to human dignity and physical integrity, engaging with children and parents and all those who work with and for them, and carry out public education programmes on the negative consequences of corporal punishment'. On a more positive note, the UN committee welcomed the abolition of corporal punishment in all schools in England, Wales and Scotland, following its recommendations made in 1995, though it said it was 'concerned that this abolition has not yet been extended to cover all private schools in Northern Ireland'.

The report also welcomed the Government's establishment last year of the Children's and Young People's Unit, and the appointment of a children's commissioner in Wales and plans for similar posts in Scotland and Nor- thern Ireland. But it expressed concern at the lack of 'an independent human rights institution for children in England'. The NSPCC welcomed the report and called for the Government to act 'urgently' on its recommendations regarding the physical punishment of children, saying it was out of step with public opinion, child protection professionals and the UN. NSPCC director Mary Marsh said the 19th century law of "reasonable chastisement" was 'well past its sell-by date' because it sent out a 'dangerous message to parents that hitting children is acceptable and safe, which it clearly is not'. 'The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the benchmark for how we should treat children in the 21st century. We need a modern law to protect children from being hit.'

www.nursery-world.com

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04 January 2003 - Sure Start Unit Launched

The DfES and DWP has now launched their overarching unit for the management and coordination of early years, childcare and Sure Start. Responding to the inter departmental review of childcare. The existing Early Years Unit, Childcare Unit and Sure Start Unit will become one. The new Sure Start Unit aims to develop integrated services which include early years education, childcare and services for families and communities. Incoporating health and wider benefits for children and parents/carers.

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