Both the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and the National Childminding Association (NCMA) rejected a statement issued by the Department for Education and Employment last Friday which said they had 'commented positively on many aspects of the standards'.
Rosemary Murphy, NDNA chief executive, said, 'This is a great example of Government spin. It is amazing that a press release which clouds the issues can be put out from Margaret Hodge's office halfway through the consultation.
'While there are some positive aspects to the guidelines, namely that it will be a national framework, the key element - a trained, professional workforce - is missing. These proposals do not in any way ensure that parents will have the quality of childcare they will expect.
'We are surprised the Government has chosen NVQ level 2 as a minimum qualification because not only is it recognised in the sector as a qualification for assistants who cannot work unsupervised, it has also never been accepted as a qualification but only as a stepping stone.'
Gill Haynes, chief executive of the NCMA, added, 'So far, the reaction of our members, staff, key volunteers and other childcare organisations is that they are bitterly disappointed with the draft national standards. The NCMA is very concerned that after many months of talking with the Government the standards we expected have been seriously watered down.'
A DfEE spokeswoman said it had 'not intended to give a false impression' by referring to the NDNA and the NCMA in its press release.
Employment and equal opportunities minister Margaret Hodge claimed there was misunderstanding and 'scaremongering about what the standards will mean'. She said, 'I am confident that our proposal to ensure 50 per cent of staff are trained to NVQ level 2 will raise standards in many areas, bringing them up to levels of qualification required by other local authorities. Our proposals are a minimum below which no provider may drop - they are not guidance on best practice.
'The national standards will be a key element in the new regulation and inspection system that starts from next summer. I am delighted that people in the childcare field recognise this as a major step forward.'
But senior representatives of national childcare organisations said last week the proposals were a major step backwards for the sector and criticised the Government for 'dumbing down' standards, at a conference in Derby last Thursday hosted by the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN).
PANN professional officer Tricia Pritchard said, 'The proposed standards are not about child protection or raising childcare standards. Rather, they are about saving the Government money.'
She added, 'The organisations which came to our conference all had serious reservations about many aspects of the standards and will not be giving "positive" responses to the consultation.'
The consultation ends on 31 October. A consultation pack is available on 0845 602 2260.
