The concerns have been raised in response to new figures published by Ofsted last week that show the proportion of childcare providers rated as “good” or better has dropped seven per cent since the introduction of the regulator’s tougher line on inspections.
Between September 2012 and August 2013, the number of nurseries and childminders rated as good or excellent fell from 74 to 67 per cent. This coincides with a rise in the number of complaint-driven inspections carried out by the regulator.
Only providers in the top two inspection grades are able to provide 15 hours of free childcare to the 130,000 disadvantaged two-year-olds currently eligible for the scheme, which will be expanded to 260,000 two-year-olds in September 2014. Providers receive government funding to provide for the places.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
