The Whistleblower programme has clearly raised old concerns about the quality of education and care provided in formal childcare settings.
The Leveller shares these concerns, but we need to be realistic there are rogues in each and every business. In my opinion the standards of care provided in nurseries and other settings have rocketed in recent years.
Since the introduction of government initiatives in early years the the beginning of the decade there has been great investment in early years and corresponding increases in standards. The Effective Pre-School Practice (EPPE) Research has shown that with quality and consistent care children in nursery settings do well. Furthermore the government has changed policy to incorporate key findings from the research such as the efforts increase the level of qualifiactions within settings and the ongoing extension of free nursery entitlement.
Children within daycare settings are safer now than ever before, protections are offered by Ofsted, CRB checks, monitoring and support by the local authority and, in the current context I would also argue the market also offers protection. Parents are becoming more discerning consumers and with overprovision in many areas parents are able to pick and choose a nursery of their choice. Put more simply bad providers will go bust.
Of course there are problems, low pay and status being high among them. We still allow our children to be predominantly cared for by an army of poorly educated, often young women. However, in truth, has this ever been any different? There is a solution, but the economics of daycare are problematic, and I do believe that unless the government accelerates towards a more Scandanavian funding arrangement day care will continue to be a struggle, and as a direct result scandal-seekers will find what they will.