What has happened to the Childcarelink.gov.uk site?

I did know the new database was coming, but did not expect it to be such a mess. I did a postcode search to see if my own details were on it, and I did find myself on page 4, listed as 2 kilometres away from my own postcode (at which I know I am the only childminder). It also showed me as having no places, whereas the old childcarelink site accurately showed that I do have vacancies. It is very annoying! I had a mum call me to say I know you don't have any places but... and went on to say that as apparently no-one locally has places she was looking to be put on a waiting list. Sure enough, when I looked on the database, no-one around here is shown as having spaces. I have also had no response to my message pointing out the discrepancies and asking how to get this remedied.

But what I find really appalling (as a former systems designer and a taxpayer who has contributed to the cost of this shoddy system) is how badly designed and carelessly constructed the "help" on the system is - the instructions on how to navigate to update details refer to pages and and options which simply do not appear. This has clearly not been checked and tested in a professional manner.

Walling, did you get my CAT?

I was looking for half term stuff (which is also totally lacking)
accept not as important as livlihood etc but still it will be too late by the time they get their a into g

If they want to speak to a parent, you can point them to me.

I haven't really got a problem with the ownership of data/website shifting to a national level. (Well, actually I have because this government has proven time and time again that they are incompetant when it comes to handling data... but that's beside the point). What I find to be incredibly irresponsible is whoever shut down the old website before the new one was in a comparable state. So what I want to know is not who is organising the new site, but who shut the old one down so very very very prematurely.

We have made it to Mumsnet "Discussions of the Day" - thanks Mumsnet HQ.

Alas I'm not great at chatting to people on the phone. I am also not a Childminder, so this issue does not as directly affect me as it does childminders. Therefore I'm not that useful to them... they need childminders whose livelihoods could be wrecked by this delay in the system being operational at a usable level.
Feel free to point them to this thread though, I'll post anything I find that may be of help to them and other journalists researching this matter.

Isn't it a bit worrying that Surestart don't know about the new system... surely that isn't the case. Maybe they have been told to make no comments. Seems like DCSF have known there were going to be issues since early September... so were they trying to hide it? Did they think no one would notice? It may have taken a while for us to notice... but we did!

The contractor for this project appears to be Tribal Group PLC "Tribal has won a £3.6m contract from the Department for Children Schools and Families to provide the national Information System for Parents and Providers (ISPP), an online system that will enable parents to access up-to-date, integrated national and regional data on both childcare and family service provision."

Journalists: PR & Media Relations Manager contact for Tribal Group PLC. In addition to usual contact details, they also list an Out of Hours urgent contact number - so you can get an immediate comment / sound bite.

LA Email from DCSF to local authorities, 10 September 2009

The letter on 17 September which mentions that DCFS were in discussions with Ofsted to publish data from Ofsted's system.

Support website for Local Authorities - this may contain information useful to journalists who pick up this mumsnet thread.

Have found an article about delays of the new database, from back in September - Children & Young People Now: Makeshift plan for childcare directory as delays continue
"Many local authorities missed the 7 September deadline to get all the relevant data on local schools and childcare services ready for the new online Parent Know How Directory, to go live on 30 September."

Was Surrey one of them? Is there a list of all the councils who missed the deadline?

Good to know that Watchdog are showing some interest. Hard to know who we can complain to. I used the Contact details on the direct.gov.uk website yesterday but haven't had any reply.

Doing a Name Search (didn't know you could do that) I think I have found myself - the information is rather lacking to say the least!

a phonecall already, bloodyhell that was quick!

Ohh can we be on telly....I like being on telly

I have also just checked - I thought it was odd that a friend of mine in the next village has had about 3 enquiries lately and I haven't had any {{checking for bad breath and body odour}}- and I have just found that I am not on the list. I called up and they told me what others have said here, but said they have no idea when it will be sorted. She did say they have had quite a few people calling recently (probably because of this post) - call and complain it may make them move a bit quicker (we can only hope)

I'm annoyed about this and I'm not even a childcare provider. How could they be so careles as to remove the old site (which worked) before the new one is up and running. It's up I guess, but it isn't running. This oversight is outrageous and totally inexcusable.

And, from a parent's perspective, they have removed a vital source of information for working parents... or even non-working parents. If my childcare goes pearshaped I always turn to chidcarelink for a childminder who can step in whilst I sort out something longer term.

This is appalling. And I would like to know who the numbskull who removed the working site is so I can campaign against his/her re-election.

i had no idea this had changed, and i'm actually quite angry about it!!

i'm not activly working but i havent de-registered, i wsa just going to take on a part time child if one came along, but now there not going to because the website, the only place i'm still advertising is broken

and what about all the new people just starting childminding how are they ment to get there name out there if the website that parents are surpose to trust and turn to isnt working

sorry just needed to vent!

I think they need dentures.

Looney, I phoned yesterday complaining and was told that they are having 'teething problems' and should be up and running shortly.