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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Proposals for Ofsted

2 replies

givemushypeasachance · 18/04/2011 10:21

These are just suggestions from the Commons Education Committee, the ministers won't necessarily agree, but they have proposed that Ofsted is split in two since it is too large and unwieldy to function. The BBC article summarised:

"A newly formed Inspectorate for Education should be responsible for the inspection of education and skills, including nurseries, schools and colleges, adult education prison learning and teacher training.

A new Inspectorate for Children's Care should focus entirely on children's services and care, including children's homes, adoption services, childminders and Cafcass, the children and family court advisory service."

What do people think about the rather interesting placement of childminders next to adoption/fostering/children's homes, entirely separate from nurseries and preschools? Do you think that would better reflect the "care" rather than "education" side of things? But is a nursery that takes on 6 month olds really educating them more than caring for them? Do you think this is a backwards step that doesn't reflect the increasing professionalism of childminders, who can provide the same or better level of care and interaction with young children as more formal non-domestic settings?

Any general thoughts?

BBC article here.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Strix · 18/04/2011 11:41

I like the idea of separating care from education. But, agree with your point that nurseries and childminders belong in the same group -- unless they mean a nursery class attached to a primary school, but I don't think they do.

I would welcome less beaurocracy for childminders especially. There are so many things (paperwork mostly) which my childminder has to do for the "education" of my 4 month old son which can only be described as ludicrous. I send him there for his care, not his education.

kaj32 · 18/04/2011 12:43

Hmm, I think this could be a backward step.

Less beaurocracy would be a good thing but it could end up with childminders being seen as glorified babysitters instead of childcare professionals.

I think I need to look into this further.

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