Ouch Pouch Quality Assurance

All children, parent and carers deserve HIGH QUALITY care from their club. For this means a safe, supportive, encouraging and challenging environment. Knowing that the children are warm, safe and happy should be paramount, together with a reliable and consistent service.

Here at our club, we are working towards the “E.Q.I.P - Effective Quality Improvement Programme’’ Quality Assurance, which is a national accredited programme. The scheme can give parent/carers confidence in using our services. The scheme will support us, to ensure we are providing a high quality standard of service and coincides with our motto:

"A Club of Quality and Distinction by Making EVERY Child Matter"

What is ‘E.Q.I.P – Effective Quality Improvement Programme’?

The Quality Improvement Pathway has three levels and we will be judged against performance criteria for each of the Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes. OPC Ltd demonstrates we are working at a particular level through self-evaluation form (SEF) evidence, reflective practice and observations by members of the Early Years team.

OPC Ltd is registered with the North East Lincolnshire Early Years Quality Improvement Pathway and expected to work towards the levels of achievement. OPC Ltd is expected to work towards level 1 as a minimum requirement in all outcomes and will then be supported to work towards the higher levels.

OPC Ltd has an ‘Action Plan’ which focuses on areas for development as identified through discussion, OfSTED reports and other relevant information. OPC Ltd has ownership of out action plan and responsible for updating and producing it at all meetings and will be required to ensure that the relevant personnel are available for all visits.

The Early Years Team will make judgement about the quality of the setting which will be subject to a process of standardisation through the Early Years Quality and Continuous Professional Development Group. When we have worked consistently at a particular level we will receive written confirmation and will work towards the next level.

The Early Years Team will visit and will determine the level of support we may require.

The levels are:

• Low – 3 visits per year, 1 per term
• Medium – 6 visits per year, at least 1 per term, as determined by the action plan
• High – 12 visits per year, at least 2 per term, as determined by the action plan

Continuous Quality Improvement Needs to be central and on-going priority built in at every stage of service development. OPC Ltd strives to push quality ever higher above minimum OfSTED Standards.

What are the benefits of ‘E.Q.I.P’

1. EQIP provides a framework of QUALITY INDICATORS, getting goals for the setting to aspire to, which helps your club continually improve its practice.
2. Having a quality award enables parent/carers to select your club with confidence. It’s a great marketing tool, helping to improve occupancy, and therefore long-term sustainability.
3. EQIP focuses on the role of staff and how they can be supported. This improves staff teamwork and stimulates new ideas for staff training and professional development, helping to secure a high quality staff team.
4. Having a quality assurance award provides increased recognition for the complexities of operating an out of school club, improving motivation among staff and managers.
5. A quality assurance awards helps us stand out from the crowd and shows we are a club worth supporting.
6. EQIP isn’t just about getting a paper certificate and trophy. It’s about instilling an ongoing commitment to reflecting on practices, and achieving real commitment to our club.

Our Certificate and Trophy can be found on our page.