Ofsted Consultation for the publication of the register of childcare providers
They would like your views with regard to the following information being available:
Name and address of registered person
Business name where provided
Unique reference (this is the provider's identity number)
Date of registration
Type of provision such as childminder or provider of other childcare
Numbers and ages of children registered to care for
Times and duration of the provider
Conditions attached to registration
Telephone number/fax/email
Name of Local Authority where the provision is registered
Enforcement action Ofsted has taken against the provider; for example, when Ofsted has cancelled or suspended a provider's registration
Information connected with enforcement action Ofsted has taken against the provider, for example when Ofsted has cancelled or suspended a provider's registration
Information connected with the provider's compliance with requirements; for example, relevant standards
If appropriate, the date when the provider stopped being registered
Information about complaints made against the provider that didn't result in enforcement action
If all these are decided to be made public, then Parents will be able to search for a childminder by postcode, look at the registration document & last inspection report, and then contact the childminder - without the need to go via CIS.
This I see as being a GOOD thing, as it puts childminders back in the same playing field as nurseries - where a lot of business information is available publicly. However, I am sure some people may not want all this info shown... perhaps on security grounds.
The Ofsted consultation runs until February 2008, so make your views known to Ofsted.
Ofsted would like views from PARENTS, Childminders and Home Childcarers/Approved Nannies, as well as local authorities - so if you use a childminder, are looking for a childminder, or if you are a childminder,
let Ofsted know your view