Child care figures ‘good’

MOST of the care for youngsters in the borough is either good or satisfactory, according to new figures from education watchdog Ofsted.

They show that 46.7 per cent of 368 child care organisations — such as crèches, childminders, day care and out of school clubs — inspected in Oldham in since April, 2005, were good and 47.3 per cent were satisfactory.

Only 2.4 per cent were outstanding and 3.5 per cent were inadequate.

Figures for Oldham’s 78 nurseries alone were: outstanding 5.1 per cent, good 44.9 per cent, satisfactory 48.7 per cent and inadequate 1.3 per cent.

Across England, 7.5 per cent of nurseries were classed as outstanding.

The number of places offering child care has dropped in Oldham by 115 (20.6 per cent) to 442 since April, 2005, compared with a 3.9 per cent decrease in England.

But the number of places available for children is up by 270 (3.4 per cent) locally to 8,124 (5.8 per cent) nationally.

The profile of early years education in Oldham can be seen at www.ofsted.gov.uk.