Childcarers slate 'biased' survey

The Childcare Survey of Great Britain questioned 2,000 working mothers. Its findings include that parents' 'ideal form of childcare' would be 'a well-trained nanny'.

The research was carried out by the television channel Discovery Home & Health to coincide with the start of 'Nanny School', its 15-part series that follows a group of students attending Norland College.

According to the survey, mothers have a range of issues about the quality of childcare: 34 per cent think 'the treatment of their child is generally poor'; 23 per cent claim their nursery has 'failed to stimulate the child properly'; and 22 per cent have raised 'poor safety and security issues'

with nursery staff.

It found that mothers were so worried about their childcare that 85 per cent of them would 'spy' on their nursery or childminder if they had concerns.

But Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said such studies were 'highly irresponsible' for families who faced difficult choices about work and childcare.

She said, 'The evidence shows that day nurseries are the most popular form of childcare and we question why this would be so if parents truly had so many issues.'

She added that 93 per cent of nurseries were working at or beyond Ofsted's requirements.

Ms Tanuku said, 'This survey insults both the hard work of nurseries who are committed to ensuring that children receive the best possible early years care and education, and the choices parents have made.'

Thom Crabbe, director of services at Daycare Trust, said the survey was not representative of parents or the issues they raise about childcare. 'Larger and more widely based surveys report 85 per cent of parents satisfied or very satisfied with their childcare,' he said.

'Long-term and detailed research underlines the benefits of good quality childcare for children and underpins current investment and development of the childcare workforce.'