Creches win star ratings

Owners Janthea and Steve Bridgen, with the help of their local MP John Bercow, successfully lobbied the Government and the DfES for a more flexible approach to registration and inspection criteria to take into account the nature of mobile childcare services.

They claimed that the inspection criteria introduced by Ofsted when it took over early years inspections in 2000 were unworkable and inappropriate for temporary childcare operations, and could have put them out of business.

Nipperbout, a Milton Keynes- based company that runs creches at major conferences and national events including the Labour Party conference and the Ideal Home Show, was set up by the couple 15 years ago.

Mrs Bridgen said, 'We had to overcome many problems which do not exist for permanently located childcare providers. Some of the legislation was completely impossible for our situation.

'For instance, there was the requirement to keep all the children's registration cards on site for two years. Given that every event we run is at a different venue, that requirement was completely unworkable for Nipperbout.

'A requirement was also introduced saying that every room used for childcare needs to be registered. However, we work from different rooms at every event and rooms can change at short notice.' This meant that each time Nipperbout moved rooms in a building it had to be re-inspected. 'As a result, we had to have 64 inspections in the first three years,' Mrs Bridgen added.

She said she was 'extremely proud' that Nipperbout had received the outstanding grading from Ofsted.

'We work with different children at every event, and children are often tired and disorientated from travelling and staying in hotels. We have to make sure the focus is on fun, but we also try to educate through artwork, drama, talking and music.

'It has been a great pleasure to get three invitations to Ofsted celebration lunch receptions to recognise our success.'