Childminder reports published on net

Parents will be able to check the quality of childminders via the internet from next year, education watchdog Ofsted has announced.

At present parents can obtain reports on childminders only by contacting the childminders directly.

Now, Ofsted has decided to put them on its website - www.ofsted.gov.uk - from April 2005.

Only the childminder's registration number and part of the postcode will be published to protect privacy and to ensure the safety of children in their care, the Government agency said.

Childminders had voiced fears about what could happen if their home addresses were posted on the Internet.

Ofsted said parents will be able to type in their own postcode and its website will then provide a list of registered childminders in their area.

Chief inspector David Bell said: "We surveyed more than 70,000 childminders and parents to gauge their views before deciding to publish the reports.

"By publishing the childminder's registration number and part of their postcode, we will strike a balance between protecting children, enabling parents to locate childcare in their area and reassuring childminders."

Most watched News videos