From April 2005, childminder inspection reports will be published on Ofsted's web site. The reports, which include information about the quality of childcare and improvements that inspectors recommend, are currently only available by contacting the childminder directly.
These plans have been welcomed by the National Childminding Association, but it has warned that inspection reports form only part of the picture in helping parents choose the right care for their child.
"We recommend that parents talk to their local Children's Information Service, visit a range of childminders and take up references before making a choice," said Lynn Daley, a registered childminder and chair of the association. "Registered childminders are ideally placed to offer the individual care children need. This may not be evident from reading a report," she said.
Last year, Ofsted said it would publish the reports on its web site, plus names and addresses of childminders. But protests from the association have led Ofsted to give only their registration number and part of the postcode.
"We are pleased that Ofsted has listened to childminders and parents, and not included names and addresses of registered childminders," said Gill Haynes OBE, the association's chief executive.
"Registered childminders are part of the professional childcare sector, but their work takes place in their own homes. They are understandably keen to maintain privacy for their own families and to protect the safety of the children they care for," she said.
www.ncma.org.uk; www.ofsted.gov.uk.
