Providers ‘still need to improve safety’

Ofsted has received 1,500 complaints about the safety of children in child care settings in England in the past year.

These ranged from concerns that allegations of mistreatment were not being reported to social services to complaints about children being smacked and the poor management of behaviour.

Ofsted’s director of early years, Dorian Bradley, said there was “still some way to go” to ensure every child in early years settings was safe.

According to the report, 97 per cent of the 25,000 providers inspected – including nurseries, children’s centres and childminders – were rated as satisfactory or better at keeping children safe and protecting them from harm.

However, in 47 per cent of inspections Ofsted identified ways for providers to improve children’s safety.

Further information
Early Years: Safe and Sound

Contact the author
gordon.carson@rbi.co.uk