Nursery World - The full impact of Ofsted's web

By a woman who has been a childminder for 12 years in the south-east of England Ofsted's proposal to publish childminders' names and addresses with our reports on the internet greatly alarms me. The report will give brief details of my home's location, layout, IT equipment, pets and so on. Even more horrifying, it will say that I live with my husband, and give the ages of my children. To help any prospective paedophile or thief, Ofsted will also add that I am often out of the house at toddler groups and on school runs. I also fear for the safety of minded children. Nursery schools have security equipment and staff as back-up, but as I am alone with the children, we would be extremely vulnerable to undesirables.

I also fear for the safety of minded children. Nursery schools have security equipment and staff as back-up, but as I am alone with the children, we would be extremely vulnerable to undesirables.

The parents whose children I care for are committed to home-based care, but say that if Ofsted publishes my details on the internet, they will feel forced to leave their jobs and care for their children themselves. They are concerned that the Government body supposed to ensure childminders give safe, quality care is endangering childminders, their families, their homes and, most of all, the children. The parents have given me written notice that if my details are put on the internet, they will remove their children from my care to ensure their safety. They will also take legal advice regarding compensation from Ofsted for the trauma to their children, as well as their loss of earnings.

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