Ofsted to inspect child care services

A new child care inspection service monitoring childminders,
creches, full and sessional day care, and out of school care, has
been launched by the schools’ watchdog Ofsted.

The national service replaces those of local authorities, and is
part of the government’s plans to improve the service provided
childminders, playgroups and private nurseries.

* Meanwhile, a new report from the Daycare Trust, which compares
services for pre-school children in the 15 member states of the
European Union, has found Britain is among the weakest.

The trust urges the government to act now to improve the
situation for working parents of young children. For example,
parental leave provision for the birth of a child in Britain is not
as generous as in many European countries.