In my view: Childcare whistleblower

So, an Ofsted inspector has blown the whistle. How exciting is that? Not very as it turns out. BBC1’s Whistleblower programme (5 March 2008) didn’t really reveal anything we don’t already know, except perhaps some sad stuff about holiday club staff having to work illegally and go for day trips over the border to renew their papers.

The programme featured a nursery in which a child had died and, after watching the poorly-paid and poorly-trained staff, you were grateful that it doesn’t happen more often. Safety was, quite rightly, the main concern of reporter Imogen Willcocks, but almost more depressing was the emphasis on “supervision” of children. You can’t blame Imogen, who was trying to get by on common sense and the need to highlight the most shocking things she could find, but there seemed to be no recognition by anyone of the need to engage the children in anything other than the most fleeting of interactions. Most of these were of the “What are you doing, Wayne?” and “Give me that NOW!” variety.

Those of us who work in the sector know that there are poor-quality nurseries and that infrequent inspections are not going to do anything about that. This is why there is a National Quality Improvement Network made up of early years professionals who have campaigned long and hard for central and local government to support (even require) settings to use structured quality improvement processes, which guide the less-committed owners and managers towards reflection and change as part of their daily practice.

None of this is going to change until we value the work that we do, pay people properly and ensure that they have the time and knowledge to enjoy being with children. Will that happen as a result of this programme?’

Sue Owen is Director of the Early Childhood Unit, National Children’s Bureau NCB