First, I would like to know who Ofsted consulted about no-notice inspections. I own and manage a 24-place day nursery and I was not consulted and neither were any other owners I know.
Second, all staff will be on their 'best behaviour' when inspectors call.
Not having a date for a full combined inspection results in many settings suffering stress. They may receive arbitrary and misleading Ofsted reports because the inspector is unwilling to make allowances for a difficult day, with staff illness or the manager not present. These settings could suffer potential harm to their business.
Ofsted is now publishing the number of complaints a nursery has received alongside the inspection report. I suggest they also list the number of times they have visited the setting. Ofsted took over responsibility for daycare from social services in September 2001. Reading inspection reports on the internet reveals that most settings have had fewer visits from Ofsted in that period than they would have had from social services in a year. Some have only had one inspection.
This lack of regulation contributes more to scenes like those in 'Nurseries Undercover' than snap inspections could prevent.
Kate Blinstrub, Reading, Berkshire
