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| Drop in 'good-rated' childminders | Drop in 'good-rated' childminders |
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| A smaller proportion of childminders in England are offering childcare rated "good", say inspectors Ofsted. | A smaller proportion of childminders in England are offering childcare rated "good", say inspectors Ofsted. |
| The share of childminders rated good or outstanding fell from 62% to 54% over the past three years, while those rated inadequate rose from 3% to 6%. | The share of childminders rated good or outstanding fell from 62% to 54% over the past three years, while those rated inadequate rose from 3% to 6%. |
| But the share of those rated outstanding rose from 3% to 5%. | But the share of those rated outstanding rose from 3% to 5%. |
| Overall, childcare settings including nurseries and childminders had improved, said Ofsted. But it also found lower standards in poorer areas. | Overall, childcare settings including nurseries and childminders had improved, said Ofsted. But it also found lower standards in poorer areas. |
| The Ofsted report comes shortly it emerged that more and more childminders were quitting because of the burden of increasing regulation. | The Ofsted report comes shortly it emerged that more and more childminders were quitting because of the burden of increasing regulation. |
| Ofsted said some may not have grasped the demands of its inspection regime. | Ofsted said some may not have grasped the demands of its inspection regime. |
| Deprivation factor | Deprivation factor |
| The key issues identified by Ofsted included being unable to identify or respond to child protection concerns and a lack of training in, and understanding of, first aid. | The key issues identified by Ofsted included being unable to identify or respond to child protection concerns and a lack of training in, and understanding of, first aid. |
| Ofsted's director for children, Michael Hart, said: "We are always concerned about any provision that comes out as inadequate - that extra 3% does concern us. | Ofsted's director for children, Michael Hart, said: "We are always concerned about any provision that comes out as inadequate - that extra 3% does concern us. |
| In the 30 most deprived areas, 53% of childminders provide good or better childcare compared with 60% in the rest of the country Ofsted class="" href="/1/hi/education/7570035.stm">Fall in number of childminders | |
| "But the encouraging thing is that when we do go back and reinspect, 95% of those provisions inspected for the second time will come out as satisfactory or better." | "But the encouraging thing is that when we do go back and reinspect, 95% of those provisions inspected for the second time will come out as satisfactory or better." |
| Mr Hart said the small percentage of inadequate childminders needed to be viewed against a background of much higher rates of inadequacy in previous years. | Mr Hart said the small percentage of inadequate childminders needed to be viewed against a background of much higher rates of inadequacy in previous years. |
| He also highlighted concerns about the disparity in the quality of childcare in deprived areas and affluent areas. | He also highlighted concerns about the disparity in the quality of childcare in deprived areas and affluent areas. |
| The report said overall, quality was generally poorer where there was most poverty and social deprivation. | The report said overall, quality was generally poorer where there was most poverty and social deprivation. |
| "In the 30 most deprived areas, 53% of childminders provide good or better childcare compared with 60% in the rest of the country," it said. | "In the 30 most deprived areas, 53% of childminders provide good or better childcare compared with 60% in the rest of the country," it said. |
| It found that in Hackney, east London, 29% of childminders were judged to be good or better, compared to Wokingham in Berkshire where the proportion was 81%. | It found that in Hackney, east London, 29% of childminders were judged to be good or better, compared to Wokingham in Berkshire where the proportion was 81%. |
| Mr Hart said: "For the first time in the report we have looked in some detail at different local authorities. | Mr Hart said: "For the first time in the report we have looked in some detail at different local authorities. |
| "We are concerned that there's a variation and it doesn't seem fair that children in deprived areas seem to get a worse deal than those in more affluent areas." | "We are concerned that there's a variation and it doesn't seem fair that children in deprived areas seem to get a worse deal than those in more affluent areas." |
| The report, Early Years Leading to Excellence, was based on evidence from 90,000 inspections of 84,000 early years and childcare settings, over three years. | The report, Early Years Leading to Excellence, was based on evidence from 90,000 inspections of 84,000 early years and childcare settings, over three years. |
| In childcare settings overall, it found notable signs of improvement between 2005-6 and 2007-8. | In childcare settings overall, it found notable signs of improvement between 2005-6 and 2007-8. |
| 'Ridiculous' paperwork | 'Ridiculous' paperwork |
| Last week, it emerged there had been an 11.5% drop, or a fall of 8,400 registered childminders, between June this year and a peak in June 2004. | Last week, it emerged there had been an 11.5% drop, or a fall of 8,400 registered childminders, between June this year and a peak in June 2004. |
| More than 100 childminders and parents contacted the BBC News website about the issue. | More than 100 childminders and parents contacted the BBC News website about the issue. |
| Many childminders said they were considering quitting because of the extra pressures of Ofsted inspections and statutory guidelines, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), that come into force in September. | Many childminders said they were considering quitting because of the extra pressures of Ofsted inspections and statutory guidelines, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), that come into force in September. |
| One, Alyson Garland, from Calne in Wiltshire, said: "I am a childminder who has been doing the job for three years, and I am thinking of giving up, the paperwork side of it is ridiculous. | One, Alyson Garland, from Calne in Wiltshire, said: "I am a childminder who has been doing the job for three years, and I am thinking of giving up, the paperwork side of it is ridiculous. |
| "We now have to do risk assessments, observations, planning and we have to now be registered as a food premises because we give snacks or a meal." | "We now have to do risk assessments, observations, planning and we have to now be registered as a food premises because we give snacks or a meal." |
| Another, Molly Harris from London, said: "I'm a childminder and have spoken to the parents about the EYFS and they agree with me. | Another, Molly Harris from London, said: "I'm a childminder and have spoken to the parents about the EYFS and they agree with me. |
| "If they wanted a school environment with countless regulations they would have sent their children to a nursery. They wanted a homely relaxed environment." | "If they wanted a school environment with countless regulations they would have sent their children to a nursery. They wanted a homely relaxed environment." |
| Are you a childminder? Are you a parent who has had problems finding a good childminder? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you a childminder? Are you a parent who has had problems finding a good childminder? Send us your comments using the form below. |