Ofsted took over responsibility for monitoring standards for overnight nursery care in September 2001, with the introduction of the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding. Previously any nursery wishing to provide overnight care was classed as a children's home and was monitored by local authority social services. The standards required varied depending on the authority and were not always appropriate for nursery care.
Cranbrook Group Nursery Schools, a Surrey-based nursery group, has been providing overnight care to children of airport and airline workers near Gatwick airport for more than four years. Proprietor Maureen Luxford said Ofsted had been supportive and understanding in taking over assessing standards for overnight care.
'It is much easier to work with (Ofsted) in achieving goals,' she said. 'It is very understanding and offers a lot of support that we have not had before and its approach is very sensible. The welfare of the child is paramount - that is the goal for all of us.'
Playdays Nursery in Wolverhampton found its local authority wanted it to register as a children's home in order to provide overnight care and it worked with Ofsted to help draw up the current guidelines for such provision, which include standards for ratios, safety requirements, meals and accommodation.
The nursery is now considering launching an overnight service some time in the next year. Nursery manager Lisa Broome said that demand came from working single parents, hospital workers, and factory shift workers and anticipated that over- night care would become more affordable to parents now that the working tax credit system, which includes help with childcare costs, was in place.
Ms Broome said, 'Informal childcare is happening everywhere - at home when relatives help out, but not everybody has that support. If we are regulated then parents have somewhere their children can safely go while they work.'
Jumping Jacks Children's Centre, in Wigton, Cumbria, has received an Pounds 80,000 lottery grant to refurbish its first floor to provide overnight care (News, 21 August) and plans to launch the service next year. Owner-manager Jane Crawford said she was confident that there was demand locally for overnight care.
