Nursery World - Childminder case lends Ofsted advice

Aregistered childminder was sentenced last week to just under four years in jail for the manslaughter of a baby in her care. Linda Bayfield, 54, from Addiscombe in south London, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to go to jail for three years and nine months for shaking to death eight-month-old Joshua Osborne in July 2000. Last month she was convicted of the manslaughter of the infant, having been initially charged with his murder.

Linda Bayfield, 54, from Addiscombe in south London, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to go to jail for three years and nine months for shaking to death eight-month-old Joshua Osborne in July 2000. Last month she was convicted of the manslaughter of the infant, having been initially charged with his murder.

An Ofsted spokeswoman said its Early Years Directorate had de-registered Linda Bayfield last week. 'She received her notice of cancellation on 15 January. She can appeal, but it is doubtful that that will happen.' Mrs Bayfield's childminding history had been outlined in an independent report into Joshua's death. The report, The Circumstances surrounding the death of Baby X, published last month, was compiled by the NSPCC on behalf of Croydon Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC).

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