Clause 187

9:45 pm

Maria Miller (Shadow Minister, Children, Schools and Families; Basingstoke, Conservative)

I beg to move amendment 400, in clause 187, page 105, line 18, at end insert—

‘98ZA Unified system of inspection

The Chief Inspector must establish one inspection programme to include—

(a) childcare provision,

(b) early years learning,

(c) other services provided by children’s centres.’.

Clause 187 makes an important provision for Ofsted to be able to inspect children’s centres. It already has the ability to inspect the child care and early years teaching elements of children’s centres, but it is not clear from the Bill how the new duty would fit in with existing responsibilities. What was interesting from our evidence sessions was that organisations that run children’s centres have very little information about the new inspection system. The lack of detail in the Bill is not making it easy, coupled with the lack of any information from third parties. It is difficult to understand the Government’s intention.

The original planning and performance management guidance, on page 25, said:

“by 2008...a new legal framework and a new quality framework for integrated education and childcare for the 0-5 age group”

would be established

“using the provisions in the Childcare Act 2006.”

Is the existing provision, which apparently could already be enacted under the Childcare Act, the same as the Government proposal in clause 187? It is difficult to tell, because of the Bill’s vagaries. Perhaps the Minister could help the Committee by talking about the work that has been done in advance of the Bill to consult organisations about how the new process would work.

The amendment clarifies that any new inspection system should not add yet another layer of bureaucracy. Ofsted would be required to have a unified system of inspection to lessen the burden on children’s centres without losing the important control of the quality of services. Going back to the witness statements from the evidence sessions, when we have organisations that are running a number of Sure Start children’s centres saying that they have no information on the new inspection regime, I am rather concerned about the Government’s thinking. The Minister needs to take a little time this evening to fill the Committee in.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Schools and Learners), Department for Children, Schools and Families; Portsmouth North, Labour)

I understand that the children’s centres and organisations in the voluntary sector that provide children’s centre services have some concerns about the potential for unco-ordinated inspections. I entirely understand the desire to ensure that children’s centres experience inspection as a joined-up process. That is sensible and is something that we also wish to ensure. There is nothing in the Bill that constrains Ofsted’s ability to schedule multiple inspections in a sensible and co-ordinated way, although when doing so it will apply different criteria for individual services. Ofsted’s recent publication, “Ofsted Inspects: A summary of the framework for all Ofsted inspection and regulation” makes clear its commitment to what it refers to as “single inspection events” and I welcome that clear and helpful statement of intent from Ofsted. I hope that gives the hon. Member for Basingstoke assurance about the conduct of inspections.

I understand that Ofsted will consult on the detail of how it will inspect children’s centres. As one would expect, that consultation will involve a wide range of stakeholders, including private and voluntary sector service providers. Ofsted will also consider how it intends to integrate the scheduling of the services discussed in the amendment and I hope that that reassurance is sufficient for the hon. Lady.

Maria Miller (Shadow Minister, Children, Schools and Families; Basingstoke, Conservative)

I thank the Minister for that clarity. Perhaps it would have been useful to have had some of that either discussed with the PVI sector before the Bill was introduced, or to have indicated that in some way to members of the Committee, because that really helped.

The single inspection event will probably address the issue that has been raised. The other issue that we want reassurance from the Minister on is whether there is sufficient expertise in Ofsted to be able to undertake that type of inspection. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Joan Humble (Blackpool North and Fleetwood, Labour)

We have been sitting now for two hours. I have been informed that the Committee’s intention is to sit for a considerable time beyond where we are now. I will therefore suspend the Committee until half-past 10.