Keep it off the record

I am in total agreement with this, as my own setting has also been a victim. When Ofsted inspectors came they could find no justification for the complaint, but it will still be included on our record. Ofsted says it can do nothing about this and that it has to record such issues so that parents looking at reports are aware of complaints against a setting, justified or not.

On speaking to a manager at Ofsted, it was also confirmed that it does not check a complainant's relationship with a setting. I was told that it would be possible for me to complain about any setting or childminder without ever having had any contact with them.

I have spoken to several other local settings who have had complaints made against them by staff who have been disciplined or who left under difficult circumstances. I am concerned that many good settings are being tarnished by those wanting some kind of revenge. I have also been told of parents making false claims to Ofsted to avoid paying fees.

Ofsted says this system protects children. But if inspectors are spending time checking bogus complaints it leaves less time to investigate settings where there are genuine concerns and the safety of children is compromised.

We should not have such complaints recorded against us.

However, practitioners wasting Ofsted's time should have this recorded on their records.

I have contacted the National Day Nurseries Association about this and have been told it is keeping records of such complaints to look into the matter.

I would urge anyone who feels they have been the victim of a malicious complaint to contact the NDNA or their own representative body in order to push for a better system to be put in place that not only protects children, but also gives protection for childcare settings.

* Sandra Haynes, proprietor, The Bungalow Day Nursery, Denton, Manchester