Both Maggie Smith, director of Ofsted's Early Years Directorate, and Mike Tomlinson, the Chief Inspector of Schools, had come before the select committee in Westminster for its annual scrutiny of Ofsted. Committee members were particularly interested to hear about the transfer of inspectors from local social services to the new Early Years Directorate, and about how childminders had reacted to the new inspection regime.
Asked if there had been 'any teething troubles' in the transfer of inspectors, Mr Tomlinson said there had been 'significant challenges' in transferring more than 1,400 staff, but that 'we have dealt with the vast majority successfully'. Ms Smith added that of these, fewer than 100 had chosen to stay on their existing local authority terms and conditions instead of accepting Ofsted's.
However, Mr Tomlinson said what had caused Ofsted greater concern was 'the transfer of information from local authorities and the extent that they had dealt with applications between 1 April and 1 July'. He said that when Ofsted took over the registration of providers at the beginning of July it was surprised that many local authorities appeared to have taken no action to process them, and had had to re-order its priorities as a result.
The select committee wanted to know if having to be registered and inspected by the Directorate had put people off being childminders, and whether bureaucracy such as rules on sinks and toilets was a deterrent. Ms Smith revealed that Ofsted is to undertake a survey on the retention rate in childminding, considering issues including what keeps people in the job and why they leave.
The most contentious issue covered in the session was allowing childminders to smack the children in their care and to smoke in their presence with parental consent. Ms Smith pointed out that the guidance accompanying the national standards for England 'makes it very clear about the risks of smoking and smacking'. She said parents were free to change their mind if they had given their permission but then became unhappy. She added, 'There have been over 12,000 inspections since the transition stage and we have found no "foggy" childminders yet.'
Asked if the Government was wrong to allow childminders to smack and smoke, Ms Smith said, 'It isn't Ofsted's place to set standards.' Mr Tomlinson added, 'As we collect evidence we will report on how the standards operate without grace or favour.'
Barry Sheerman, select committee chair, asked Ms Smith, 'Would you be happy if your own children were in a smoky environment?' to which she replied, 'Not at all.' Mr Tomlinson added, 'I don't think our personal view should affect our job.'
