Nursery World - Backdown over Ofsted fees increase

Childcare providers have escaped some 20-fold rises in Ofsted registration fees after a Government climbdown.

The proposed rise in annual fees for the Early Years Register (EYR),covering children below the age of compulsory schooling, and the OfstedChildcare Register (OCR), covering children aged six and above, was topay the equivalent of 25 per cent of Ofsted's service costs in 2010. OCRcosts will remain at 103 for childminders and 114 forother providers, but EYR fee rises have been reduced.

Announcing the changes at the annual conference of the National DayNurseries Association, children's minister Beverley Hughes said, 'I havelistened closely to the views of nursery managers and childminders andtaken the decision to increase fees only gradually alongside a newfairer system of fee banding from September. I believe that this willgive reassurance and bring stability to the sector, while helpingproviders manage change.'

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