Opinion: To the point - What the TV show missed

Several aspects of the 'Whistleblower' TV programme caused me concern. Most disturbingly, the BBC believed they had clear evidence that children were at serious risk and yet, for over three months, did nothing to inform the relevant authorities of the risks. Of course, to do so may have jeopardised much of the secret planning given to the programme. But which should have come first - the programme, or child safety? What would have happened if a child had been seriously injured between the secret filming and the broadcast?

On another level, the programme sought to suggest how impotent Ofsted is in exercising regulatory authority. Again, I feel this is not fully justified and does not tell the full story.

First, any such regulatory authority can only base its judgment on what it finds on the day of inspection. If there were no signs of the problems raised in the programme when Ofsted visited, then allowing the nursery to continue was the only course of action open.

My sympathies also go out to Ofsted in that it seems to be a victim of the Government's usual failing when it comes to childcare - insufficient funding. If Ofsted inspectors are limited in the time they can spend at each setting because of the pressure of work, then they have little chance to look for problems not immediately obvious. This is easily solved - fund Ofsted to employ extra staff.

Finally, the issue raised about CRB clearances showed the usual lack of joined-up thinking. Given the high turnover of nursery staff, the fact that clearances are non-transferable is a major problem. The Government is afraid transferability could be abused by the use of forged documents. I cannot buy into that argument. It would cost only pennies more if clearances were printed on special security paper, perhaps even incorporating a hologram, making forgery impractical. The small extra cost involved would be more than offset by the reduction in applications.

Alan Bentley is chairman of the Childcare Corporation.