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Qualifications
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The Kirklees Quality Award is a document that is designed to support settings caring for children from birth to
14 years.
Settings/childminders will have the opportunity to achieve:
Quality Practice (Level 3); or
Implementing Quality Practice (Level 2)
The document clearly sets out what is defined as minimum practice, developing practice and quality practice. For
the purpose of the award we are looking at the levels being Implementing Quality Practice
and Quality Practice. We define minimum practice as consistent with the national standards and
therefore a level below which practice must not fall. Within Kirklees we are committed to a vision of quality that
allows for two levels of practice that show real progress above and beyond the minimum. This allows settings to
adopt a staged approach to the reflection on and improvement of their practice. It is expected that it will take from
12 months to 2 years for settings to complete the accreditation procedure.
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Award process
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Settings/childminders working towards quality assurance through the Kirklees Quality Award will be:
- invited to an induction to the Award
- encouraged to self assess their present practice against the ten dimensions of quality
- required to write an action plan for areas for development
- required to start a portfolio of evidence based on the evidence collation criteria
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Cluster support meetings
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The cluster support group meetings are formulated over a twelve-month period covering all the ten dimensions of
quality in detail.
The aims of the meeting is to enable practitioners to:
- have clear understanding of the award process
- gain an in-depth knowledge of the quality dimensions
- support in portfolio building
- share good practice
- network with other settings
- gain advice and support for the team of mentors
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Mentor
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Each setting/childminder will be allocated a mentor.
The mentor will be available for support by telephone/e-mail and regular visits.
The mentor team includes the Advisory Teacher team and Development teams.
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Assessment
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There will be two levels of awards:
- Quality Standard (Level 3)
- Implementing Quality Practice (Level 2)
A setting/childminder that meets the quality criteria will be awarded the Quality Criteria Status.
This setting/childminder may have some minor areas for development.
A setting/childminder that has made consistent progress towards quality practice but still has significant areas
for development will be awarded Implementing Quality Practice. This setting/childminder will be given the areas
of development, if they wish to be re-assessed against the quality criteria they will be asked to address them
over the following 12 months at which time they can be assessed again against the Quality Standard Criteria.
This setting/childminder will be allocated a mentor to spend 2 hours with them to support with the areas of
development.
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Assessment stage
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Assessment will take place when the setting/childminder feel that they are ready. The accreditation map will help
a setting/childminder assess whether they are ready for external assessment.
Once a setting/childminder makes a decision that they are ready for assessment they will be allocated a named assessor.
The assessor will visit either one full day or two half days, 6 hours in total.
The portfolio of evidence can either be requested in advance or taken away from the setting/childminder.
The assessor will:
- examine the portfolio
- cross-reference policies, procedures and documentation
- observe the quality of the teaching and learning
- observe childcare practices
- talk to practitioners, parents and children
The assessor will make a judgement of the setting/childminder based on the standard criteria.
The setting/childminder will be told by the assessor that:
- the setting/childminder is not yet ready for accreditation
- the setting/childminder has reached implementing quality practice (Level 2)
- the setting/childminder has reached quality practice (Level 3)
It will be clearly explained that the panel will make the final decision, the assessor's grade is a recommendation only.
If the setting/childminder is not yet ready the assessor will give details of why and arrange for the mentor to
visit and advise after the panel has been consulted.
If the setting/childminder has reached implementing quality practice this will go forward to the panel. The
setting/childminder will be told that they can be re-assessed within 12 months time to meet quality practice
if they wish to.
If the setting/childminder has reached quality practice this will go forward to the panel.
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Training
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Information sessions will be held to introduce the Kirklees Quality Award.
All settings/childminders will be invited to a comprehensive 3 hour Induction Programme which will cover all
areas of the Kirklees Quality Assurance Process.
Settings/childminders will be linked to local models of good practice including Nursery Schools, Early Excellence
Centres, Educare Centres and Early Years Units, Out of School provision.
Together with a rolling programme of cluster group meetings and access to reading materials and resources these
initiatives form a comprehensive system of development and support to the Quality Assurance process.
The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership training programme is cross-referenced to Dimensions of the
Quality Document.
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Moderation system
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The internal moderation process will be carried out by the Quality Manager who will check each report for continuity
and quality.
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