What about us?

Nannies were left out of the Childcare Bill published this month, causing disappointment at the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses. PANN senior professional officer Tricia Pritchard said, 'The Bill fails to acknowledge nannies or recognise that some childcare is carried out in the child's own home. Local authorities will be charged with ensuring provision of local childcare services from registered providers only.' Under plans in the Bill, registered providers including childminders will be delivering the new Early Years Foundation Stage to children in their care from birth to five. PANN wants to see the voluntary Childcare Approval Scheme covering nannies made compulsory, while welcoming Ofsted's proposed childcare register for other carers of under-eights. But Tricia took issue with remarks by children's minister Beverley Hughes about the Government's commitment to providing education and care for under-fives. 'The Government is not including all children in this Bill - they exclude those cared for by nannies,' she said.