The equal opportunities and employment minister said there would be no changes to what has been announced already regarding the national standards, which the Department for Education and Employment expects to publish sometime this week. This means that from September, as well as childminders being allowed to smack and smoke, daycare managers and all in supervisory roles must hold a level 3 qualification appropriate to caring for children, with those in charge of baby rooms to have in addition two years' experience with that age group, and at least half of the remaining staff qualified to level 2.
Mrs Hodge made her comments last Wednesday in Portcullis House, Westminster, during the Select Committee on Education's follow-up meeting on the early years. During a lengthy cross-examination she said that 'we have consulted quite widely on the national standards and most of the news will be very welcome to the early years and childcare sector'.
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