Childminders' records to be made public

Parents will be told whether childminders looking after their youngsters have been accused of harming or endangering children under new Government plans.

The proposal will close a legal loophole that has already had tragic consequences.

Three years ago, eight-month-old Joshua Osborne was shaken to death by a childminder employed by parents who had no idea she had previously been accused of assaulting a little girl, and had been the subject of eight other complaints.

The case has been seized on by campaigners fighting for fuller disclosure of information about childcare providers.

There are 98,000 registered childminders in England, who care for children in their own homes.

They have to satisfy criteria to register, most importantly that they do not have a criminal record. However, under current law they can block inquiries about previous complaints by refusing consent for the information to be disclosed.

The rules are intended to protect childminders and other carers from malicious complaints.

The change in the law has been prompted by the House of Commons education select committee. In a report on the work of the schools' watchdog Ofsted, which took over responsibility two years ago for regulating childcare, MPs demanded a change in the law "as soon as possible".

Chief schools inspector David Bell had told the committee he was powerless to offer parents information about previous complaints without the childminder's written consent.

The select committee's Labour chairman Barry Sheerman said the situation remained a "matter of great concern" for parents seeking safe childcare.

Today, senior sources at Ofsted revealed that the Department for Education and Skills will publish proposals this autumn for a change in the law. A DfES spokesman said: "It is important parents have confidence in childcare arrangements.

"Ofsted has instituted a policy of voluntary disclosure of information about complaints against childcare providers. If consent is not given, Ofsted will require new powers in order to disclose this information."

The disclosure was welcomed today by the Osbornes' MP, Geraint Davies, who has been attempting to pilot a Private Members' Bill through Parliament to change the law.

He said: "Ofsted has a duty to provide information to parents about the prospective risk childminders pose. We have had a tragic example of where this didn't happen and a child died."

Mr Davies said he had been pressing Ofsted to introduce a system whereby childminders could give "enduring" consent for details of complaints against them to be disclosed to parents, instead of requesting permission every time a parent made an inquiry.

"There should be information available about who has refused to give consent," he said.

Stephen Burke, chief executive of the Day Care Trust, said: "Being open about complaints is crucial to increasing parents' confidence in care providers and the inspection process, and is key to ensuring the safety of children. The law should be changed as soon as possible."