The BBC Panaroma programme, available to watch on iPlayer, claims thousands of children are being harmed by nursery staff as settings ‘manipulate’ Ofsted inspections.
It suggests that since Ofsted moved to giving early years settings notice of an inspection, the number of reports of incidents to children has increased, referring to the tragic death of Genevieve Meehan following an incident at Tiny Toes Nursery in Stockport, and incidents involving two other separate children while attending their nursery.
However, Ofsted explained to Nursery World that ‘incidents risk assessed as needing urgent action increased in 2021/22 due to children returning to settings after Covid lockdown’.
At the time, early years providers had to report every case of Covid within their setting.
The inspectorate also believes its work with nurseries to ensure they were aware of the requirement to inform the inspectorate of ‘significant events’ may have contributed to the rise.
Responding to the programme, Nursery World contributor, Rachel Buckler, a trainer specialising in safeguarding, said it’s important the sector responds to the programme ‘proportionately’, while acknowledging the need for strengthened safeguarding practices going forward.
She explained, ‘Watching the BBC’s "How safe are our nurseries" programme was difficult and very emotive. Listening to the parents of Genevieve talk about their beautiful baby girl was heartbreaking. It’s important however that the sector responds proportionately recognising the brilliant work done to keep children safe whilst acknowledging the need for strengthening safeguarding practices going forward.
‘The impact of the programme will serve as an opportunity to have reassuring conversations with parents about safe practices, revisit policies and procedures and ensure that whistleblowing is enabled for everyone working with children.’
Similarly, the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said that cases such as Genevieve Meehan’s are ‘extremely rare’.
Executive chair Purnima Tanuku commented, ‘Over a million children are cared for in all types of nurseries across the country every day. The vast majority of nurseries and their staff do amazing work for children’s early development and learning, doing everything in their power to keep them safe.
‘Early years settings are facing unprecedented pressures both financially and securing the staff they need to be able to operate. We continue to be focussed on ensuring our children get the highest-quality early education and care and this requires investment and support.’
Reacting to the BBC's ‘How Safe are our Nurseries’ on Facebook, a number of providers argued that the programme is not representative of the nursery sector.
Some users flagged how the reporting of incidents to Ofsted covers a wide range of things, including, but not limited to ‘any significant event that may affect someone’s suitability to look after children such as health changes', and ‘events that might affect the condition and safety of the premises of the quality of childcare offered’ such as a fire or flooding.
Writing on Nursery World’s Facebook page, Kelly Salambasis, co-owner of More2Riverside Nursery and More2childcare, said, ‘Have the journalists bothered to look into what Ofsted classify as a serious incident? We were asked to report the closing of our garden due to a refurbishment as a serious incident because that is the only way to notify them now!’
Other users suggested the rise in reports of harm to children could be linked to the move to relax staff: child ratios.
Childminder and Nursery World Awards judge Rebecca Martland said, ‘I'd be interested to know how many incidents relate to 2-3yos [two- to three-year olds] and if these have increased. Overall though, staff are working to tighter ratios. Whereas once upon a time there was the luxury of employing extra staff to ease the burden, many settings are now running on the bare minimum. I also question the agenda here, like everyone else. Scaremongering at its worst.’
The Oliver Steeper Foundation commented, ‘Funny how they change the ratios despite their own evidence showing but you have a detrimental impact on safeguarding and education and now 2 years later.. we are where we where they said we would be.’
Commenting on our social media page, they also highlighted the impact of the recruitment and retention crisis.
Aaron Bradbury, principal lecturer for Early Childhood Studies at Nottingham Trent University, said, ‘This is what happens when a sector is on its knees. We have all been saying that quality is important, so are the workforce. We need to urgently look and learn from what has been to what is needed now.’
One user, Jen MB, said how the ‘dumbing down' of qualifications from September will not help matters.
‘I work as agency and the things I see in some nurseries are truly shocking. Dumbing down the qualifications from September is certainly not going to help matters. I truly despair of the future of childcare in this country.’
