Nursery World - Early years head resigns at Ofsted

Maggie Smith, director of Ofsted's Early Years Directorate (pictured), has resigned after less than two years in the post. An Ofsted spokeswoman cited 'personal and health reasons' for Ms Smith's departure, just weeks before the publication of a report on the Directorate's first year of operation. Maurice Smith, Ofsted early years regional manager for the north-west region, is now acting director for early years, and is leading Ofsted's work in the regulation of daycare and early years education.

An Ofsted spokeswoman cited 'personal and health reasons' for Ms Smith's departure, just weeks before the publication of a report on the Directorate's first year of operation. Maurice Smith, Ofsted early years regional manager for the north-west region, is now acting director for early years, and is leading Ofsted's work in the regulation of daycare and early years education.

Ms Smith's appointment to the new post in March 2001 was welcomed by early years organisations as she brought a strong early years background, which included being director of children's services for the charity Barnardo's, founding a community nursery in Keighley, West Yorkshire, working with lone parent charity Gingerbread as a daycare development officer and being head of children's services at Manchester City Council.

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