Clause 17 - Framework
Children Bill [Lords]
4:30 pm
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Shadow Minister for Women, Family; Epping Forest, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 46, in
clause 17, page 14, line 18, at end insert—
'( ) A children's services authority must make special provision for the inspection of nurseries within its area'.
If the amendment is not made, there will be no provision for the inspector of children's services to inspect nurseries. I am particularly concerned about nurseries because, by definition, all the children in them are vulnerable because they are so very young. The intention behind the amendment is not to undermine the work of Ofsted, which is, at present, being done extremely well, but to complement it.
Recently, much concern has been expressed in the media—quite well-based concern—about safety in nurseries and about the inspection regime. If parents are to have confidence in nurseries, it is essential that there is a tough inspection regime. It therefore seems strange that we have examined all the other work that will be done under the auspices of this part of the Bill, but nurseries have been omitted. I believe that they should be included, because they are an essential part of caring for children.