The National Youth Agency: YSQM examines the quality of servicesfor young people

The YSQM process differs from Ofsted in that it does not check on the quality of service experienced by young people, but on the "building blocks" of the service itself. Throughout the pilot phase, the Ofsted criteria were set alongside the criteria for the Quality Mark to avoid significant overlap. It was important to make clear that to achieve the Quality Mark would not guarantee a satisfactory Ofsted or vice versa.

By sharing their experiences, all nine projects were able to provide thorough and meaningful feedback to The NYA. Milton Keynes took part in the pilot phase for the majority of its duration. Sue Payne, children, youth and play manager, is confident the YSQM will be an excellent attribute for a service. She said: "It aims to improve the quality of services to young people, and it aims to help youth services deliver their goods better." She added: "Anything that encourages us to improve and provides recognition of that has to be welcomed. I am sure the right processes will be put in place, and that The NYA will be well placed to deliver this successfully."