The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) reported last week that many of its members had already been facing problems as a result of lengthy delays in police checks of staff by Ofsted's Early Years Directorate, but now the delays have been compounded by the recent introduction of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which has fallen behind schedule due to a higher than expected workload.
Rosemary Murphy, NDNA chief executive, said, 'Last week at a meeting of providers in Kirklees, some said they have been waiting six months to get members of staff cleared.'
She added that there seemed to be no consistency in practice. 'In Newcastle, NDNA members have not been told what's going on - some get two inspectors, others one; some have a full-day inspection, others a half-day; some inspections are akin to an old annual inspection, others a fact-finding mission; and some get a report, while others are told there won't be a report.
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