Local child minders worry about unwanted internet publicity

1.27.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Apr 2003

A local child minding group, representing 400+ child minders in the borough, has asked local MP Vincent Cable to take up with Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary, their fears about a proposal to publish their personal details on the internet.

The proposal comes from Ofsted, the inspectorate, which wants to publish details of all child minders, including home addresses, on its website.

The child minding group is seriously worried that the degree of publicity is unnecessary and will put children at risk from predatory adults and compromise women involved in custody battles.

Vincent Cable has taken up their cause and written to Charles Clarke on behalf of the local group: "Obviously some information has to be in the public domain so that parents who leave their children with child minders can find out about standards. "

"Telephone numbers also need to be published so that parents can make enquiries. But information has to be carefully "

"managed where access to young children is concerned. "

"Broadcasting to the world the names and addresses of all child minders, whether they agree or not, is a clumsy and potentially dangerous initiative.".

Contact: Brenda Babcock