Quality of childminding takes a tumble
Lauren Higgs
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The number of childminders judged as inadequate by Ofsted has more than doubled since 2005, according to the watchdog's latest report into the state of early years services.
Leading to Excellence, which was published today (27 August), reviewed more than 90,000 inspections of childcare and early education settings between 2005 and 2008.
Although more childcare settings in general were judged satisfactory or improved, the number of childminders providing good or outstanding childcare dropped and the level of inadequate childminding rose from two to six per cent.
Maxine Hill, policy and research manager at the Daycare Trust, said: "This report will be of real concern to parents. Every child deserves quality childcare, so even one childminder providing poor care is one too many. Every childcare provider should be striving to provide the best quality care for all children using their services."
The report also found the quality of childcare was lower in disadvantaged parts of England. Only 29 per cent of childminders in Hackney, east London, were deemed to be good or outstanding. But in Wokingham, an affluent area in Berkshire, 81 per cent of childminders were awarded one of the top two grades by the watchdog.
In the 30 per cent most deprived local authorities in England an average of 53 per cent of childminders provided good or outstanding care, compared to an average of 60 per cent nationally.
The same trend was identified in group day care provision, with 54 per cent of day care groups in the 30 poorest local authorities achieving good or better ratings, compared to 63 per cent across the rest of England.
Hill said: "It is worrying if more childminders in deprived areas get lower gradings. We hope the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage provides the quality framework for all providers and supports them in raising the standards of childcare."
Despite this, 95 per cent of settings judged inadequate by Ofsted improved between 2005 and 2008 and the watchdog gave 94 per cent of all settings it visited at least one recommendation to improve. The most frequent recommendation, which was made in 48 per cent of inspections, was that settings should do more to keep children safe.
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