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Original poster

Proposed deregulation of childminders

81 replies

Italiana · 20/05/2012 13:54

The Department for Education and Ofsted are in discussion with the National Childminding Asociation (NCMA) about the proposal to 'deregulate' c/ms. This may lead to c/ms falling under the umbrella of an agency and losing the right to be individually inspected by ofsted. C/ms are very worried about issues of safeguarding and quality of care.
This has been reported in the media by the Daily Mail and The Guardian last week.

C/ms have started a campaign led by the NCMA against deregulation: 'Individual Inspections Matter' which can be found on their website www.ncma.org.uk. A survey of c/ms has found out that 85% want to remain regulated and equally recognized along other providers. C/ms in each area are campaigning many with petitions and approaching their local MP

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squinker45 · 20/05/2012 19:29

What's the point then if it won't save money? Am I being unduly cynical in thinking that money saving is the agenda in this case - surely it will be cheaper to inspect the agency once rather than all the cms. One inspector could get through hundreds of cms in a day by inspecting agencies, whereas at the moment they can do 2 at most.

Original poster
Italiana · 20/05/2012 18:12

There is no evidence that it will save money, yes the agency maybe the 'appointed' head but there are issues of safeguarding and quality of care.

Not sure how it will increase the number of c/ms more likely that many will leave the profession. All childcare is regulated some parts a bit over the top but it will not stop deregulation all together as the agency will regulate c/ms in return for a fee. Regulation has meant standards rising and that is what parents need.
There is no comparison with nannies who only have to register with Ofsted to allow parents to use c/vouchers but only need First Aid as training while c/ms have to comply with the Welfare requirements, the EYFS, Learning and Development and also offer the Free entitlement which nannies cannot do.
C/ms are also self employed and run their own businesses.

I am sure that parents will still be able to pay by vouchers as they can only be redeemed through registered childcare providers. There has been a lot in the press recently and once the c/ms' campaign starts to hit the headlines it will be more widely advertised.

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squinker45 · 20/05/2012 17:59

I think you would still have to be registered, it just means that the system would be more like a school where there is an appointed 'head' type admin person / system that gets inspected and then all the childminders in that area end up with the same grade. I suppose they will ask for examples of satisfactory/good/outstanding and they will be inspected but no one else will. Money saving exercise.

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 20/05/2012 17:51

how will it impact upon those parents that pay by vouchers? Do they need to be "ofsted registered" childcare for the vouchers system to work?

4goingon14 · 20/05/2012 17:44

I agree with Dozer...IMO far too much regulation. So much so that it went completely mad for a while with people getting nosy and reporting people to OFSTED for ridiculous reasons.

Other countries do not have the regulations that they have here and do just fine.

Dozer · 20/05/2012 17:35

If the deregalation needs to an increase in the number of CMs, then that's good IMO. It is over-regulated now in comparison with nannies etc.