The National Childminding Association has urged the government to
"exercise caution" in responding to demands for all complaints
against childminders to be made available to parents.
Under a change in the law being considered by Ofsted and the
Department for Education and Skills, parents could be allowed
access to information about childminders' pasts without their
consent.
Although childminders can only become registered if they have no
criminal convictions relating to children, they can refuse to give
parents access to information about any complaints relating to
their work.
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But NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes warned that only one in four
complaints related to the suitability of childminders themselves
and that it was unreasonable to bring in a system in which every
parent can get information about every complaint. She said: "Many
complaints are about premises, money and car parking - and a
significant percentage are malicious and unfounded," Haynes
said.
"What we need is a robust system of inspection and investigation
that roots out bad practice and gives parents the specific
information they need rather than a blanket approach that offends
the reasonable rights of the vast majority of child care
providers."
But children's charity the NSPCC said: "Parents have the right to
know that everything has been done to ensure that their childminder
is not a danger to their child."
