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Ofsted is happy with providers

Daycare and childminding services in England have received a broadly positive appraisal in Ofsted's first-ever national analysis of the standard of provision. Early years: the first national picture presents the outcome of Ofsted's inspections of all childminders and daycare providers over the 19-month transitional period after it took over responsibility for regulation from local authorities and for implementing new national standards from September 2001.

Early years: the first national picture presents the outcome of Ofsted's inspections of all childminders and daycare providers over the 19-month transitional period after it took over responsibility for regulation from local authorities and for implementing new national standards from September 2001.

Although only 41 per cent of providers met the standards on their first inspection, Ofsted says that the vast majority have now attained these standards and only needed a few changes to get there.

Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, David Bell, said, 'Ofsted's philosophy of improvement has been to the fore throughout the transition period. Ofsted has taken a strong, consistent approach to implementing and enforcing the national standards. But at the same time, we have developed workable processes for registration and regulation that do not hinder growth in the childcare sector. A new benchmark has now been set for the quality and safety of childcare throughout England, against which future improvements can be set.

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