Aiming High Scotland (AHS) is a quality assurance scheme for out of school care services in Scotland. The scheme has been developed, and is operated, by the Scottish Out of School Care Network (SOSCN). AHS was first launched in 1998 and was revised in 2009.
Commitment to quality
By participating in this quality assurance scheme an out of school care service is showing dedication and a commitment to developing and maintaining a quality club. Participation in AHS encourages self-evaluation and self-improvement with staff and management working in partnership to provide club users (children and parents) with the best possible service. For newly set-up clubs or those in need of improvement, AHS is an invaluable tool in developing quality practice: it is more than just an award of recognition.
A quality assured out of school care club is one which can be trusted to provide a good quality experience for children, as verified by an independent expert: the Scottish Out of School Care Network.
Quality Areas & Levels
Within AHS, clubs are assessed against a set of 16 Quality Areas:
- Commitment to quality
- Out of school practice: positive opportunities
- Out of school practice: the care environment
- Out of school practice: a child centred approach
- Partnership with parents
- Access
- Equal opportunities
- Management
- Staffing
- Volunteers
- Administration
- Food
- Premises
- Arriving and Departing
- Local networking
- Holidays
There are three levels of awards (gradings) in AHS: one, two and three, three being the highest (excellent). Services will be graded on each quality level and then assigned an overall award level. All services must now be able to meet the Level One standard for the purposes of the Care Commission’s inspections and so services should be aiming to achieve a level two or three standard.
Assessment and re-assessment process
Services compile a portfolio of evidence showing how the club meets, and possibly exceeds, all the quality indicators set-out for each quality level; this portfolio is then submitted for assessment. The portfolio will be assessed by an independent assessor appointed by SOSCN, who will also visit the club once during hours of operation (two hours approximately). After completion of the assessment process, the club will receive notification of the outcome.
Once a club has been awarded Aiming High Scotland it is quality assured for two years (24 months) from the issue date of the Award Certificate. After 24 months have elapsed a club has 3 months in which to register with SOSCN for re-assessment and then a further 9 months in which to complete the re-assessment process. If a service fails to meet the stated deadlines then it will be no longer quality assured by SOSCN.
Assessment (and each subsequent re-assessment) cost £600 + assessor’s travel expenses (variable).
Mentoring
Clubs may either submit portfolios with no further guidance other than that provided in the AHS resource pack, or they may choose to participate in a series of mentoring sessions. Mentoring sessions can be purchased as a series of 6x2½ hour sessions over a six month period and will help participants develop their service according to the quality areas, allow them to discuss ideas and practice, and learn about appropriate evidence suitable for submission in the portfolio. These mentoring sessions are delivered by two mentors and organised on a group basis for a maximum of ten delegates who may be from the same club, or more likely, a number of different clubs.
Clubs can also purchase individual mentoring sessions or ask for specific mentoring to be tailored to their individual needs- please contact SOSCN for details.
Mentoring costs:
£3,600 for a series of 6 group* mentoring sessions (6x2½ hours) (+mentor travel costs)
£600 per subsequent group* mentoring sessions (+mentor travel costs)
*Maximumn of 10 participants.
NB Travel costs will vary but SOSCN will endeavour to keep costs as low as possible – budget for £60 per session.
Why participate in Aiming High Scotland?
As previously stated, AHS is a tool for developing and maintaining quality within an out of school care service. The portfolio of evidence created for AHS is also a key piece of evidence for Care Commission expectations and in meeting their 4 quality areas.
“I feel that Aiming High has made a significant difference to services who have gone through the process. I think the main differences seem to be that committees are generally more aware of their role and responsibilities and take ownership of the task. Also managers and staff take great pride in putting together the portfolio and are clearly implementing change as part of the process, they area aware of quality and what they need to do to achieve quality. The scheme provides a lever for change and I have seen where staff have used it to influence the committee/provider and also where the committee have influenced staff.
In addition, the portfolios provide additional evidence for us. One of the OSCs allocated to me who were not performing well two years ago, and would have been looking at adequate grades have engaged with Aiming High and I now expect them to be graded good or very good as a result of the difference.”
A Care Commission Officer
“I’ve just submitted our Pre-Inspection paperwork to the Care Commission and wanted to tell you how much I appreciated advice regarding the work involved in Aiming High going to be useful when it came to the new Self Assessment setup. You were so right! I flew through the e-form faster than ever and really feel I did my service justice!”
An OSC leader
How do I participate in Aiming High Scotland?
Aiming High Scotland Quality Assurance is only available to members of the Scottish Out of School Care Network; if your club is not a member then you will be asked to join.
Your service must purchase registration for Aiming High Scotland through SOSCN. Registration costs £75 and for this, new participants will receive a registration number and an Aiming High Resource Pack which includes a workbook. It is vital that you do not lose the registration number as it is required when submitting your portfolio for assessment.
If you are looking to be re-assessed but participated in the original scheme, you will receive an updated resource pack free of charge- all services must now be working on the updated version unless otherwise specified.
How to pay for Aiming High Scotland
Some out of school clubs choose to make Aiming High a priority target for their service and cover the costs of participation by themselves, alternatively, some local authorities provide funding for out of school care services to participate.
If your service would be unable to cover the participation costs, or your local authority does not provide funding to participate, Awards for All currently provides funding to participate in the scheme; this may either be done on an individual basis or as a collective bid through your local out of school care network, should one exist.
N.B. If you are wishing to submit a bid to Awards for All to cover the costs of Aiming High Scotland, SOSCN must be contacted for a quote and agreement document prior to the submission of the bid. Bids which are not agreed prior to submission may not be recognised by SOSCN.
Summary of Costs
SOSCN membership (if not already a member): £20/£50
Registration fee (to receive registration number & resource pack): £75
Series of 6 group* mentoring sessions (6x2½ hours): £3,600 (+mentor travel costs)
Subsequent group* mentoring sessions: £600 per session (+mentor travel costs)
Assessment & re-assessment: £600 (+ assessor’s travel costs)
*Maximum of 10 participants.
NB Travel costs will vary but SOSCN will endeavour to keep costs as low as possible – budget for £60 per session.
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For more information on any of the above please contact SOSCN on 0141 564 1284 or email soscn at ahs@soscn.org
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