Nursery World - Left out of consultation

By Tessa Drury, honorary secretary of the Playgroup Network Friday 18 July was the closing date for the Sure Start consultation looking at improving the regulation of childcare in England. We wonder how many Nursery World readers saw this document, as it does not appear to have been widely circulated even though it covers such important and controversial issues as banning corporal punishment by childminders and no longer allowing them to smoke in the presence of minded children - changes so many of us have wanted to see for a long time.

Friday 18 July was the closing date for the Sure Start consultation looking at improving the regulation of childcare in England. We wonder how many Nursery World readers saw this document, as it does not appear to have been widely circulated even though it covers such important and controversial issues as banning corporal punishment by childminders and no longer allowing them to smoke in the presence of minded children - changes so many of us have wanted to see for a long time.

However, there also appears to be a shift in approach in the document that we fear may lead to a lowering of care standards. For instance, we are asked if we agree that the criteria for different categories of childcare should be applied flexibly. An example is given that a setting operating for half an hour longer than the sessional care limit should not necessarily be treated as full daycare.

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