Ensuring quality in a mixed community-based and commercialised provider environment

 

The QBC model is designed for an environment of ECE and care provision that is already operating substantially as a regulated business market. This is the situation in many countries, including New Zealand, Australia, the US, Canada , the UK, and a number of European countries. The model does not promote ‘marketisation’, or suggest that a market model is either a preferred or even good mechanism for ECE and care. It simply recognises it as a reality.

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Government as the fully responsible provider, contracting services

 

In this model, the government is the provider but not the owner. It contracts services from private and community organisations. The government has a mandate and obligation to assess quality, and to choose better quality services where choice exists. It is obligated to minimise risk, for example by avoiding locations adverse to child health.

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Government choice - the essential difference between licence and contract

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Government choice is the essential difference between licensing and contract. It is fixed price for volume, so no negotiation occurs that erodes quality by way of cheaper deals. Almost all contracting is standard form, with similar transaction costs to licensing, for both government and contractors.

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The model contains a structure that would form a major part of the proposed Early Years Ministry, and which has functions that would address children's wellbeing as well as their education. The new Ministry structure is designed to support the model with appropriate roles and expertise.

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A new quality assessment system - quality of care, quality of environment, added value for learning and development

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In QBC all competition is quality-based, as assessed through a well-designed quality assessment system, (quite different to current ERO assessments) rather than relying only on parent perceptions. 'Quality' is not pedagogically prescriptive, but is based on quality of care and environment, followed by added value for learning and development.