麻花影视comments on new childminder agency inspection handbook

11th January 2016

Commenting on the release of the childminding agencies inspection handbook, published today, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:

鈥淭his handbook, published over a year after the registration of the first childminder agency, highlights exactly why agencies are such a flawed idea and why they have had such a low take-up rate.

鈥淥fsted ratings are widely viewed by parents to be a key quality marker for early years providers, and yet, despite this, only 10% of registered childminders are likely to be visited by Ofsted directly - and even then, the purpose of these visits is to 鈥榓ssess the effectiveness of the agency鈥檚 arrangements for assuring the quality of its childminders鈥, and not the actual quality of the childminders. With agencies themselves only rated as either 鈥榚ffective鈥 or 鈥榠neffective鈥, how can parents feel confident of the standard of care being given to their children?

鈥淕iven the level of concerns that the sector has raised about agencies, particularly those around safeguarding and welfare, it is disappointing that that inspectorate is pushing ahead with this flawed initiative. It may be a cheaper way to inspect childminders, but as we in the early years know well, doing things on the cheap and ensuring the provision of high quality care and education are two objectives which simply do not align.鈥

For further information or to interview, Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning 麻花影视please contact:

Emma Caldwell
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2598
E: Emma Caldwell

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Notes for editors

  1. The Pre-school Learning 麻花影视is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the 麻花影视supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The 麻花影视also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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