I want to make just a couple of comments that I hope will be helpful in clarifying our role and responsibilities to your readers. Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, says 'some practitioners' suspect there is a pre-set quota of providers to achieve a certain grade. I would like to reassure readers that this certainly is not true and David Bell, HM chief inspector of schools, has answered a parliamentary question to this effect.
Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, and Julie Hibberd, a director of Happy Days in Devon, raise the question of the 'relationship' with Ofsted and its inspectors, and request more emphasis being placed on 'supporting and training' providers. In prompting the changeover to Ofsted, the Government fundamentally and deliberately changed that relationship. The responsibility for training, advice and support is part of the 'retained functions' of the local authority and is usually delivered by the local authority partnership. Ofsted is the regulator - a defined and different role altogether.
Over time, these roles and responsibilities will develop more clearly.
Ofsted's commitment is to register, inspect, investigate complaints and take appropriate enforcement action in line with its regulatory responsibility, and report on the state of childcare. We shall continue to do so within a tradition of independence and without fear or favour.
Maurice J Smith
Director of Early Years, Office for Standards in Education
