Nursery World - Sector outraged by new ‘insensitive’ Ofsted guidance on reporting employees’ ‘emotional issues’

The early years sector is up in arms about new Ofsted guidance that states providers must report any changes to an employees’ health including depression, ‘stress-related’ or emotional issues.

The new Ofsted guidance says that providers must notify the inspectorate of changes to employees' mental health including 'stress-related' issues PHOTO Adobe Stock

Early years organisations, nursery owners and childminders are together calling for the inspectorate to review the guidance immediately.

The guidance has been published without any rationale to explain why it is needed and without any consultation with the sector.

Published yesterday, ‘Childcare: reporting significant events and changes to health’, says that registered early years providers must ‘report any significant events that might affect you, or another person’s suitability to look after or be in regular contact with children. This includes certain changes to your health.’ Failure to do so could mean providers commit an offence, it states.

It says the guidance might include, 'childminder assistants, members of a business partnership, directors of a limited company, committee members, managers of a childcare provision and regular visitors.'

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