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Education

One in 25 day-care services 'inadequate'

27/08/2008

One in every 25 day-care services for children around the UK is inadequate, according to a new report by Ofsted.

The annual review of inspections of registered childcare and education also found that childcare services in less well off areas was significantly worse compared to the national average.

Four per cent of day-care settings, six per cent of out-of-school and three per cent of childminders are "inadequate", according to the government watchdog.

In a statement published today, Ofsted declared it "considers inadequate provision unacceptable and is monitoring this closely".

"Services are generally of a lower quality in areas where families are experiencing high levels of deprivation," the statement declares.

In the 30 most deprived local authority areas, 53 per cent of childminders provide good or better childcare, compared with 60 per cent in the rest of the country.

Overall, the situation is a positive one with 97 per cent of registered childcare services receiving a positive inspection and 60 per cent declared "outstanding".

Chief inspector at Ofsted, Christine Gilbert, said: "It's particularly encouraging to note that where we found inadequate provision in previous inspections, these settings have improved significantly.

"However, there is still more to do to ensure that outcomes for all children are of a consistently high standard and that every child has access to the same quality care, particularly in areas where provision is generally poorer."

Ofsted claimed that the majority of the parents whose children use the services inspected claimed that the inspections had helped improve standards.

Christine Gilbert added: "We want England’s early years and childcare provision to be the best in the world for the 1.7 million children who use those services Ofsted wants all providers to use this report to inform their own self-evaluation about how they can improve their leadership, management and organisation."