In September the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland reported that the intention to develop a new Shared Inspection would be postponed until after the full implementation of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) policy in August 2020 and that in the meantime:
• Education Scotland will continue to use How Good is Our Early Learning and Childcare during inspections.
• The Care Inspectorate will continue in line with other care service types to develop a Quality Framework for the sector which will be designed to take account of the National Care Standards and best practice guidance. Until this has been agreed the Care Inspectorate will continue to use the Quality Theme Framework for inspection.
Linked to the above, the Care Inspectorate has now launched a consultation exercise on their Draft Quality Framework for ELC, which it explains as follows:
“This Early Learning and Childcare Framework sets out the elements that will help us answer key questions about the difference the quality of the service provided makes to children’s outcomes and experiences. The primary purpose of a quality framework is to support services to evaluate their own performance. This framework is then used by our inspectors to provide independent assurance about the quality of care and learning. By setting out what we expect to see in high-quality early learning and childcare provision, we can also help support improvement.
"Using a framework in this way develops a shared understanding of what constitutes good care, learning and support. It also supports openness and transparency in the inspection process. The framework is intended for all service types and for children from babies to those attending care settings such as nurseries, family centres, childminders, play groups and out- of-school care settings”.
To support this consultation exercise the Care Inspectorate is holding a series of weekday consultation events around Scotland for early years practitioners.
The Care Inspectorate is holding a consultation event for childminders on Saturday 30 November in the Malmaison, 44 Whitehall Crescent, Dundee, DD1 4AY. Please also visit the Care Inspectorate website for further information and updates.
Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive, Scottish Childminding Association, said: “This is an important consultation exercise for childminding and for other early years providers. We would strongly encourage members to read the consultation document, to respond directly to this consultation exercise and to attend this meeting if at all possible.
"However, we recognise that this meeting is at short notice. While we are pleased that weekend meetings have been arranged for childminders in recognition of their weekday commitments, only one event is being held.
"This will undoubtedly affect attendance and engagement. We have written to the Care Inspectorate asking them to consider arranging more meetings around the country at later dates, to extend the consultation deadline and will update you.”
For further information please visit the Care Inspectorate / Respond to the consultation
Responses must be submitted by 6 December 2019
A future ELC Engagement Session for childminders has also been planned by the Care Inspectorate for Saturday 18 January in Glasgow at the Radisson Blu Hotel, 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8DL. Timings are due to follow from the Care Inspectorate.
In addition, the Care Inspectorate is planning a Facebook live session to allow childminders to connect through social media as well. Check your inboxes regularly and look our for more details to follow from the Care Inspectorate.