Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association (NCMA), said she was glad the standards - to be introduced when Ofsted takes over regulation from local authorities in September - and the guidance were now being sent out to every provider. The guidance was 'clearly written and accessible, with lots of practical suggestions for new childminders', she said, adding that the guidance on caring for a child under 12 months showed Ofsted's awareness of childminders' expertise.
Mrs Haynes stressed that the NCMA had not been involved in drafting the guidance relating to childminders being allowed to smoke in front of children in their care and smack them with parental consent. Since the Department for Education and Skills had set these standards, Ofsted had to produce guidance to accompany them. 'Who in their right mind is actually going to be entering into a written agreement, given the guidance Ofsted has put together?' she asked.
Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), was disappointed that there was nothing to direct a nursery manager to ensure enough level 3 staff were on the premises to deliver high-quality care and education, and at the lack of a definition of the role of supervisor. She said, 'There is also concern that because the guidance will be open to interpretation by inspectors this could take us back to the days of Children Act inspections implemented differently throughout the UK.' She added that she hoped implementation would be consistent after a training programme by Ofsted.
Peter Aughterson, managing director of the UK's largest nursery chain, Asquith Court, questioned whether the references to 'minimum' staffing ratios in the full daycare standards and guidance might mean inspectors demanding different standards in different parts of the country. 'From a provider's point of view it's logical for standards to be consistent across the country. I would not like to see the Early Years Directorate take an arbitrary approach,' he said.
