News

Editor's view

Unease is growing over some of the proposals in the Childcare Bill, with early years and childcare professionals raising their voices at several recent events (see News, page 4). There has been such a strong protest about the plan to deregulate group childcare for six- and seven-year-olds that the Government may be forced to back down. This would be a wise move. Deregulatory measures such as these can only put children at risk, and run counter to the Government's avowed aims of increasing the quality of childcare and the workforce providing it.
Unease is growing over some of the proposals in the Childcare Bill, with early years and childcare professionals raising their voices at several recent events (see News, page 4). There has been such a strong protest about the plan to deregulate group childcare for six- and seven-year-olds that the Government may be forced to back down. This would be a wise move.

Deregulatory measures such as these can only put children at risk, and run counter to the Government's avowed aims of increasing the quality of childcare and the workforce providing it.

There should also be a rethink on the threat to Quality Assurance schemes.

With Ofsted's move to a three-year inspection cycle, and limits to what the inspection process can achieve, there is a great need for other methods of supporting providers so that they can reflect on their practice and continually improve beyond meeting basic standards.

Without a rethink on these issues, it will be very difficult for the UK to achieve a world-class childcare service.

Some of the best examples of that service will be evident when Nursery World's first-ever Nursery of the Year Award, sponsored by Morton Michel and supported by Community Playthings, is announced tomorrow night (Friday). We're all very excited about the results, and the winners truly represent some of the best practice around.