Inspection plans could be jettisoned

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’.”