Early years providers graded highest ever by Ofsted

Figures just released for inspection outcomes to the end of August 2016 show that 15 per cent gained an Outstanding grade and 76 per cent Good, compared to 86 per cent Good or Outstanding to the end of March 2016, and 74 per cent at 31 August 2012.

Just 8 per cent of providers on the Early Years Register were graded Requires Improvement and 1 per cent Inadequate.

Childcare on non-domestic premises (nurseries) performed better than childminders (95 per cent Good or Outstanding compared to 89 per cent). Ofsted said that the difference could in part be due to nurseries judged to require improvement being reinspected within 12 months, so having more opportunity to show progress.

Childminders continue to leave

Ofsted also released statistics for the numbers of childcare providers and places, which revealed that the number of childminders has slumped 22 per cent since end-August 2012, to 44,700, including a 3 per cent fall since end-March 2016. Places offered by childminders have dropped 9 per cent since August 2012.

The number of nurseries has also fallen, although much more modestly, dropping 3.5 per cent since August 2012 and 0.9 per cent since March 2016 to 26,900. Places have decliend by 0.8 per cent since 2012.

Ofsted said that there were a number of factors for the fall in childminders, acknowledging that registration with agencies (only eight active so far) would not have had an effect. It added that as shools no longer had to register ealry years provision for two-year-olds, this could account for some of the decrease in the number of non-domestic providers.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said, 'In light of today’s headlines questioning the quality of early years provision, it’s particularly important that we continue to recognise and celebrate the fact that the vast majority of nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are delivering high-quality learning opportunities in positive, safe environments.

'At a time of continued underfunding and limited practical support, these statistics are a reflection of the hard work and dedication of practitioners across the country, and the sector should be rightly proud of this achievement.

'It is incredibly concerning to see the number of childminders continuing to decline at such a sharp rate. Childminders are a crucial source of quality, flexible early years provision and, as the government has repeatedly stated, will be critical to the success of the 30-hour offer when rolled out.

'We are, therefore, surprised and disappointed at the lack of action taken by government to try and tackle this trend. With only eight childminder agencies registered after two years, it is clear that this initiative is a damp squib and has done nothing to stem the flow of childminders exiting the sector.

'The Department for Education must look to address this as a matter of priority – now more than ever, we cannot afford to be losing quality, experienced practitioners from the workforce.'

National Day Nurseries Association’s Chief Executive Purnima Tanuku OBE said, 'Considering the pressures that the nursery sector is under with funding shortfalls for the free childcare entitlement and increased financial burdens such as the National Living Wage and rising business rates, this is testament to the sector’s resilience, hard work and dedication.
 
'However, Ofsted also reports a continuation of the trend for decreasing providers and places. This is a particular concern when faced with delivering the Government’s pledge to increase funded hours to 30 per week from September next year. This is a real concern for the future sustainability of the sector at a time when it needs to be expanding to deliver the expected increased demand for the 30 hours.
 
'Nurseries need to feel confident enough that they can offer these 30 hours while remaining sustainable. If Government funding is not sufficient to cover delivery costs, they need to be allowed to charge parents for extras as a condition of a place, something we will continue to campaign for.'

Liz Bayram, Chief Executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, said, 'It is extremely encouraging to see the growth of good and outstanding settings over the last few years, especially as the quality has increased despite the erosion of local authority support. That said, while the quality of the sector is clearly at an all-time high, the quantity of practitioners is not, and this has to be urgently addressed.

'The promised workforce development strategy must be the priority - to ensure that childminders have the support they need for training and development.

'Childminders provide a unique, flexible home-based service to children and their families and they will be crucial to delivery of the 30 hour offer, which is drawing ever closer. Government figures state that 45,000 new places will be needed from September next year. It is more important than ever before that childminders get the support they need to ensure that they remain in business, feel confident about their future, as well as encouraging new entrants into the profession.'

A DfE spokesperson said, 'We have invested a record £6 billion to support working parents with high quality, affordable childcare and it is promising that the number of settings rated as good or outstanding is rising.
 
'But we want to make sure that all types of providers feel supported to play their role in delivering our 30 hour offer. That’s why we are making it easier for childminders to work outside of the home and share services with other businesses, we have introduced new guidelines which say councils should pay them monthly and we will be making grants available to help with start-up costs.'