§ Richard Younger-RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans there are to advertise the existence of the national register of child minders and day care providers; [69117]
(2) what action has been taken to advertise the existence of the national register of child minders and day care providers; [69118]
(3) when the national register of child minders and day care providers will be available online; [69119]
(4) how many child care professionals are listed on the national register of child minders and day care providers; [69132]
(5) how many child care professionals are listed on the national register of child minders and day care providers within the area of the Devon county council. [69140]
§ Margaret HodgeThe establishment of a national register of child minders and day care providers is a matter for the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library. Ofsted routinely transfers information from its database of child care providers to local Childcare information Services (CISs). The Government have made funds available to local CISs across England in order to make child care information available to parents. The Department has set up the ChildcareLink national
184Winformation line (0800 0 96 02 96) to help parents find their local CIS. There is also a ChildcareLink website www.childcarelink gov.uk that includes a search facility to find local child care provision.
§ Richard Younger-RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) when assessment of child care providers against OFSTED's satisfaction criteria will(a) commence and (b) be completed; [69142]
(2) what OFSTED'S draft satisfaction criteria for child care providers are; [69143]
(3) when OFSTED's satisfaction criteria for child care providers will be finalised. [69145]
§ Margaret HodgeThis is a matter for the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Richard Younger-RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further training is necessary for staff as a result of the transfer of responsibilities for child care regulation to OFSTED; and what plans there are for its provision. [69144]
§ Margaret HodgeTraining for staff employed by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) is a matter for OFSTED. The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.