The results are out
Ofsted has published the results of a consultation, and its subsequent decision, on whether it should publish the registers of providers under the Childcare Act 2006.
The Childcare Act 2006 commenced on 1 September 2008 and requires Ofsted to hold two registers of providers: the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register. We wanted to hear the views of parents and carers, childcare providers, childminders and other interested people on whether or not we should publish these registers on our website and, if so, what information we should include.
We consulted on these issues between November 2007 and February 2008 and received 1,345 responses from across the childcare sector. In addition, we held interactive question and answer sessions with organisations representing childcare providers.
Although included on the registers, we’ll not publish the names and addresses of childminders, home childcarers and childcare on domestic premises
Overall, respondents welcomed the publishing of the registers and largely agreed on the type of information that should be included. Parents and carers told us they need more information about childcare providers, including their names, addresses and telephone numbers. However, some providers such as childminders and home childcarers are opposed to the publication of their names and addresses on a public website.
After considering the responses, we’ve decided to publish the registers for all providers apart from provision which is not accessible to the public, such as some military bases and women’s refuges. Also, we’ll not be publishing the names and addresses of childminders, home childcarers and childcare on domestic premises on our website.
The decision regarding the names and addresses of childminders and childcare on domestic premises is an interim one while we further consider further the wishes of parents balanced against those of registered childcare providers who don’t want their home addresses published. We’ll publish the childcare provider’s Unique Reference Number and provide a facility to search online in an area by postcode.
The full results and details of the consultation and our decision are available at this link. You can also obtain a hard copy of the results by phoning 08456 404040.
Thank you to all respondents for participating in our Ofsted’s consultation.
