News

The parents of an eight-month-old boy who died from a severe brain injury after being shaken by his childminder have joined with the NSPCC to propose a plan to protect children in the care of childminders and nannies.

Earlier this month, childminder Linda Bayfield was sentenced to nearly four years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Joshua Osborne. Bayfield had previously appeared in court on charges of assaulting a child and had eight complaints about her methods of discipline, but remained a registered childminder after a magistrates' ruling. This information was not made available to the Osbornes when they employed Bayfield.

The three-point plan includes proposals for complaints to be thoroughly investigated and unsafe childminders deregistered. It also suggests that childminders and nannies should never hit or shake a child, even with parental permission, and proposes that nannies, who are currently unregulated, should be subject to inspection and registration by Ofsted.

NSPCC director Mary Marsh said that while most childminders are caring and competent, Joshua's death was not an isolated case.

"Parents must be confident that a registered childminder is a safe childminder and they must know who to turn to when they have concerns. Making it illegal for childminders and nannies to hit or shake a child, as with other professionals looking after children, could save lives in the future."