What is the Darlington Pathways to Quality Scheme?
Darlington Pathways to Quality Scheme has been developed by people working in a wide range of early years and childcare settings across Darlington to enable services to continually review, evaluate and improve their practice. All the staff in the settings are involved in working through 8 modules of the Scheme. It can take up to 2 years to complete due to the high level of commitment, time and thought it requires.
Who can achieve the accreditation?
- childminders
- creche providers
- holiday playschemes
- independent nursery schools
- out of school clubs
- playgroups & pre-schools
- private day nurseries
- workplace nurseries
What is the Scheme trying to achieve?
- To bring people together to look at their own values & practices.
- To develop relationships with a range of other providers, rather than working in isolation or competition with each other.
- To engage people in a process of thinking which will be on-going, so they recognise there is no end-point to quality & that it lies in the process of constant self evaluation & striving for improvement.
- To ensure all providers of childcare & education will be viewed on an equal footing.
- To recognise that, although the situations in which they are working are very different, the essential questions about quality are similar for all.
- To recognise that there is no single, right way of doing things.
- To recognise that each provider has something to offer & that we can all learn from each other.
- To be open to new ideas & be prepared to make changes.
- To give valuable public recognition to services achieving high quality.
Why should we undertake a Pathways To Quality Scheme?
By achieving the Pathways to Quality Scheme accreditation, your profile will be raised in the wider community. The Scheme will provide a guide to quality for parents as they are choosing the best setting or provider for their child. Having the accreditation indicates a high level of quality as the assessment procedure goes beyond the requirements for Children's Act inspections & is broader in scope than OFSTED combined inspections.
For more information contact Sheelagh Nevison on 01325 488176 or e-mail sheelagh.nevison@darlington.gov.uk