TV shows suspect nursery practices

Private day nurseries are bracing themselves for another media scare as a TV documentary using 'secret' footage is due to be aired this week.

The programme reportedly shows overworked and unqualified nursery staff shouting at children and flouting hygiene regulations.

Reporter Lizz Brown went undercover to three private nurseries in Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester and west London over a period of four months. In the programme she speaks to current and former staff from the nurseries who say that parents and inspectors are regularly 'deceived' about the standards of childcare provided.

The programme makers of the current affairs series Real Story, presented by Fiona Bruce, claim that what she found 'will disturb any parent who is using, or considering using private daycare'.

The documentary follows a spate of sensationalist news stories in the national press in recent weeks, which claimed that nurseries were turning children into 'thugs'.

NDNA chief executive Rosemary Murphy said, 'Parents deserve the peace of mind of knowing that high-quality child- care is being provided and they need to understand how to choose a quality setting.'

She stressed the role of Government kitemarked accreditation schemes such as NDNA's Quality Counts, in helping parents to choose a nursery.

Ms Murphy added, 'Our key message to parents is to demand childcare subsidies that enable the sector to deliver the best possible service.' 'Nurseries Undercover - Real Story' is on BBC1 on Thursday 12 August at 9pm.