13 January 2004
Parents will be able to read childminder inspection reports on the web next year, following a decision by Ofsted announced today.
Reports by the education watchdog are currently only available by contacting childminders directly.
By publishing all childminder inspection reports on the web Ofsted believes parents will be better placed to make more informed childcare choices. The reports include information about the quality of childcare provided and any improvements that inspectors recommend.
In order to ensure the confidentiality and security of childminders and the children they look after, only the childminder’s registration number and part of their postcode will be published on the web from April 2005 - the start of Ofsted’s next childcare inspection programme.
This arrangement follows discussions with both parents and childminders, and meets some concerns voiced by childminders over full details of their home address being made available on the web. To find suitable childcare, parents can type in their own postcode and Ofsted’s website will search for registered childminders in their area.
Ofsted currently makes public its reports on all other types of 0-19 childcare and education provision.
Ofsted took over the responsibility for the registration and inspection of day care and childminding in September 2001. By March 2003 there were 99,300 registered childcare providers in England - 68,200 were childminders and 31,100 were daycare providers. Ofsted is now well into the second round of inspections.
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