The government could perform a U-turn on proposals to end compulsory checks on after-school clubs, holiday play schemes and crches, the head of the Sure Start programme said last week.
Naomi Eisenstadt told the annual Sure Start conference that ministers might "rethink" the proposals because of the scale of opposition from child care professionals.
Under the plans, to be contained in a forthcoming child care bill, childminders for the over-eights, creches, after-school clubs and holiday play schemes for children aged over five would no longer be required to register with child care watchdog Ofsted or be inspected by them.
Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, told the conference: "This is an extraordinary situation to be in when we are continually reminded that 'every child matters'."
