Ofsted has moved halfway to meeting parents' concerns that they cannot legally obtain information about the outcome of complaints made against daycare providers (see News, page 4). They will now be able to get a form to request the information they want, although the onus will still be on the provider to agree to give the details about any complaint. Ofsted acted swiftly as the pressure grew following Geraint Davies' Private Member's Bill calling for parents to have access to the outcome of complaints against providers. The inspection body will now seek to have the law changed in line with Scotland and Wales, where information about investigations is readily available to the public in annual inspection reports.
Ofsted has moved halfway to meeting parents' concerns that they cannot legally obtain information about the outcome of complaints made against daycare providers (see News, page 4). They will now be able to get a form to request the information they want, although the onus will still be on the provider to agree to give the details about any complaint.
Ofsted acted swiftly as the pressure grew following Geraint Davies' Private Member's Bill calling for parents to have access to the outcome of complaints against providers. The inspection body will now seek to have the law changed in line with Scotland and Wales, where information about investigations is readily available to the public in annual inspection reports.
Transparency is vital in the matter of complaints against daycare providers. The rationale for having quality assurance schemes and inspection reports with grading systems is severely undermined if complaints, their outcome and any action taken are shrouded in secrecy.
Easily available information could help prevent tragedies such as the death of Joshua Osborne at the hands of childminder Linda Bayfield, a woman with a history of complaints made against her, about which the baby's parents had no idea.
