From Monday, its newly-formed Early Years Directorate extended Oftsed's work to include the registration and inspection of full and sessional daycare in day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, cr ches and out-of-school provision. However, since the beginning of July it has been registering all new care providers.
The change from a local service run by 150 separate local authorities to one national service run by Ofsted follows on from a Government pledge to create a level playing field for care providers across England and to do away with regional anomalies. Under the Care Standards Act 2000, all childcare providers must be registered by Ofsted and must meet the new national standards published by the Department for Education and Skills.
The director of the Early Years Directorate is Maggie Smith, formerly director of children's services at Barnardo's. Eight regional offices in Bristol, Birmingham, Harlow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Woking have been set up for 1,500 new staff, most of whom have transferred from local authorities. About 1,000 of these childcare inspectors are home-based and they will have to regulate approximately 120,000 childcare providers, including an estimated 80,000 childminders, 30,000 group providers of daycare and out-of-school clubs and 10,000 holiday schemes.
Mike Tomlinson, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, said, 'We are delighted to welcome all new staff to Ofsted's Early Years Directorate. Their expertise is vital as Ofsted takes on this important new role of ensuring the safety of young children through registration and inspection. Parents need to know that their children are well cared for and that they will be provided with activities which promote their personal development and learning.'
