Nick St Aubyn, MP for Guildford and a member of the all-party Select Committee on Education and Employment, said at the launch of the committee's report on Early Years, 'The recommendations come with cross-party support. I am calling for a free debate in the House of Commons and a free vote, because this is an issue of general concern and not a party-political one.
'It is contradictory for the Government to stop smacking in schools, yet let untrained childminders smack. If the Government can't show leadership in this matter, then put it to debate in the House of Commons.' The committee roundly condemned the idea of childminders smacking and smoking. Chairman Barry Sheerman said he disagreed with the Government over the issue and would tell employment minister Margaret Hodge and education secretary David Blunkett to drop the policy.
The report described the Government's national standards which permit childminders to smack and smoke as 'unacceptable ... in any setting, but particularly where the carer is often working in isolation' and added, 'The physical security of the children being looked after should never be compromised.'
The report also endorsed the position of the National Childminding Association (NCMA), and argued that smacking and smoking in front of children 'can never be an acceptable practice in any childcare setting'. NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes said, 'Childminders want to work to high national standards and shouldn't be treated differently from other daycare providers. We welcome the Select Committee's recommendation and its belief that national standards for daycare and childminding should be equally high.'
Tricia Pritchard, professional officer of the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses added, 'Allowing childminders to smoke in front of children and smack them both contravenes children's rights and ignores all the advice given to the DfEE by the organisations it consulted. If these proposals go ahead, we will soon see disputed allegations of assault.' However, an unrepentant Margaret Hodge told childminders in London last Thursday that while she regretted the disagreement that the smacking and smoking issue had caused, 'the issue is whether it is appropriate for the state to intervene, or is it more appropriate for parents to make the decision?
'More than eight out of ten parents said it was a decision that they want to take and we, in Government, have to listen to that.'
