Ms Truss spoke to members of the National Day Nurseries Association -
https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...es-association
Talking about how many of our children are behind those in other countries in English and maths by the age of 5 - pushing the Ofsted / Wilshaw agenda for early testing which Simona was talking about yesterday by the look of things!!
About agencies -
'Agencies will be inspected by Ofsted, and be a source of business and other practical help. They will be self-financing and independent of government. It will not be obligatory to join them, but new childminders - and many existing ones - may well find that agencies offer a support network and a more secure way of working.
Over 60 organisations have expressed an interest in working with us to trial elements of childminder agencies. They are a mix ranging from nursery chains to individual childminders, academies, maintained schools, national childcare organisations, children’s centres and local authorities.
We’re going to be working on testing out the concept, testing out the business model, and the regulatory system. But I can reassure you that Ofsted will be keeping a very close eye on the childminders within those agencies to make sure that quality is maintained during that process.
Once we’ve completed the trials we will then consult on the regulation around childminder agencies.'
About independent childminders -
Those who remain independent will not be formally or informally compelled to join an agency. But I strongly hope that this will increase the number of childminders in our system and also more of a seamless service for parents will be very attractive. It will also provide a one-stop shop for parents where they want it.
Am I the only one to see something VERY wrong there?
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