Council leader calls for a 'fit and proper' test for operators running nurseries

Councillor Vince Maple wrote a joint letter with Councillor Clive Johnson to Claire Coutinho, minister for children, families and wellbeing. The letter was written prior to the local elections when Maple was leader of Medway Labour and Co-operative.

Yesterday (5 May), Labour won the local election in Medway, taking over control of the council from the Conservatives.

In the letter, the councillors state, ‘there should be no danger of a compromise between the financial and operational imperatives’ of those who set up childcare settings.

‘The caring, educational and safeguarding issues are too important to be compromised by owners whose overriding concern may become the pursuit or securing of profit.'

They also state they are ‘concerned that there is insufficient oversight by regulators of individuals and companies that wish to open early years settings.’

Also, ‘that it appears relatively straightforward for settings to be established if potential providers have sufficient funds to do so.’

They raise concern that those setting up nursery businesses are ‘not necessarily required to have an involvement in childcare or the sector more widely prior to opening a new setting.’

The councillors recommend those wishing to establish settings undergo a ‘fit and proper test’, which they say ‘would seek to ensure a level of professional commitment to the sector from individuals and companies.’

Responding, children's minister Coutinho said she would forward the concerns to Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, as Ofsted has responsibility for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

The councillors have yet to receive a reply from the inspectorate.