New pressure to regulate nannies

In March the Commission invited people such as nursery nurses or those with first-hand knowledge of running, using or working for a nanny agency to join its Short-Life Advisory Group on Childcare Agencies. Ronnie Hill, regional manager for the Care Commission's South-East Region, said that the group was being set up to help the Commission 'gather a rounded view' about the inspection and regulation of nanny agencies under the proposed national standards for childcare. The standards are currently in draft form and are awaiting approval from the Scottish Executive following the May elections.

Meanwhile, south of the border, representatives of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) met with Sure Start minister Catherine Ashton on Monday to discuss the setting up of a register of excluded nannies similar to List 99 for teachers. REC, which represents some but not all nanny agencies in England, said it was 'imperative' that the details of nannies who had mistreated children in the past were placed on an exclusion register and that such a register was run by the Department for Education and Skills.