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| Title: Mark Warner & BBC Whistleblower Program | |
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Date Posted：01/18/2011 1:38 PMCopy HTML http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/03_march/05/whistleblower.shtml
<!-- Title --> <!------ main content goes here -------> Whistleblower, BBC One's flagship undercover series, will tonight (Wednesday 5 March, 8.00pm) lift the lid on how nurseries are putting children at serious risk by failing to check both the criminal records and references of staff employed to work with very young children – and the failure of Ofsted to police this.
In an exclusive interview given to the programme on condition that her identity was protected, a current Ofsted inspector alleges that Ofsted – the official body responsible for inspecting and regulating nurseries and childminders in the UK – is approving childcare facilities that should not be operating.
Ofsted inspector: "I am a mother of two young children and many of my colleagues have young children. Between us, I would say we would inspect roughly 700 crèches, nurseries, after-school clubs and childminders and there wasn't more than five that we would take our own children to."
Following the tip-off from the Ofsted inspector, BBC undercover reporter Imogen Willcocks began an eight-month undercover investigation, during which she discovered that Ofsted is not only failing to adequately regulate the childcare industry in order to protect pre-school children in nurseries and in the care of childminders, but that political connections could have influenced Ofsted's decisions.
The programme uncovers Ofsted documents that indicate that the Just Learning nursery in Cambourne should have been closed following the accidental death of a child in its care and critical inspection reports, but was saved from closure due to concerns about the implications for Michael Fallon MP. Michael Fallon, the Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, was the Managing Director of the nursery at the time and the documents state:
"If we cancel this particular setting then there are implications for Michael Fallon, as he would be automatically disqualified."
Viewers will be shocked to see how Imogen Willcocks, a 21-year-old undercover BBC journalist with no experience of looking after children and no professional qualifications, is employed to look after young children under the age of five by two nurseries in Britain, and a leading British holiday company. Furthermore, they will see her approved as a registered childminder by Ofsted.
Imogen's undercover filming takes place at Just Learning in Cambourne (near Cambridge) and Buttons nursery in west London, as well as a Mark Warner holiday resort in Dahab, Egypt – an upmarket company that markets itself as offering "award-winning childcare".
The undercover footage in the programme reveals:
Imogen's findings go some way towards understanding the Ofsted Whistleblower's comments in the programme:
"Ofsted reports are not worth the paper that they're printed on."
"Anybody can approach Ofsted, talk a good talk and really become registered [as a childminder]."
"I've taken a great risk talking to you but I don't believe, and many of my colleagues don't believe, that we protect children anymore."
"Inspectors will go out to undertake an inspection and are literally skimming the surface. We are told consistently and constantly: 'if you go in and you don't see a problem, don't look for one. Get in there, take a quick look and get out'. The No. 1 priority for all inspectors is to meet their targets, because if they don't then they are disciplined. So targets take priority over safeguarding of children."
The critical Ofsted report, following the inspection of Just Learning in Cambourne that occurred after 10-month-old Georgia Hollick died accidentally at the nursery in April 2006, found serious problems there. There was no criticism of the nursery at the inquest. Documents obtained by the programme show that Ofsted took into account the consequences the closure of the nursery and disqualification from running it could have on the then Managing Director when considering what action they should take. The Managing Director at the time was Michael Fallon, Conservative MP for Sevenoaks, who remains on the Board of Just Learning.
Since filming, the directors of Just Learning have written to parents announcing the closure of their Cambourne nursery following the Ofsted reports and the BBC's investigation, and have admitted that the BBC has made them aware of "a serious breach of recruitment policy last year".
Notes to Editors
1. BBC undercover reporters Imogen Willcocks and Ashley Kennedy were CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked by the BBC prior to their undercover work for the programme but none of the companies that feature in the programme were aware of this.
2. BBC undercover reporter Imogen Willcocks worked at: - Just Learning in Cambourne from 7 to 27 November 2007. - Buttons nursery in west London from July to August 2007. - Mark Warner resort in Dahab, Egypt between 2 and 14 April 2007.
3. A second undercover BBC reporter, Ashley Kennedy, followed up Imogen Willcock's findings by working undercover at Mark Warner's La Plagne ski resort, in France, for two days from 17 December 2007 to see if procedures had been tightened since the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from a Mark Warner resort in Portugal in May 2007. Again, she was employed by Mark Warner and working at the resort prior to her references and a CRB check being obtained.
4. On 18 February 2008, Jonathan Bell, the MD of Just Learning, wrote to parents announcing that the Cambourne nursery would close on Friday 29 February 2008. Quote from the letter: "You will be aware that the nursery recently received an "Inadequate" report from Ofsted. The directors of Just Learning have considered this and the increasing difficulty of recruiting staff against continuing media interest in the nursery. We have also been made aware, by the BBC, of a serious breach of recruitment policy last year involving a former member of staff. As a result of this, the nursery manager has resigned".
5. Mark Warner resorts are not required to work to Ofsted regulations.
6. Rights of Reply
Written statement from Michael Fallon MP in response to the findings in the BBC undercover investigation:
"This is news to me, and a matter for Ofsted. I had no discussions with Ofsted about the fatal accident at Cambourne. I resigned as managing director immediately afterwards. I strongly endorse the decision of the board to close the Cambourne nursery. The breach of the company's recruitment procedures was completely unacceptable."
Written statement from Buttons nursery in response to the findings in the BBC undercover investigation:
"Buttons Day Nursery is a family-run nursery with a loyal following. Our aim is to provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment for our children. We try to foster trusting and supportive relationships between families and staff. The care and safety of our children is of utmost importance. "Buttons has regularly received favourable Ofsted inspection reports, one as recently as February, 2008.
"Buttons has a low staff turnover. New joiners undertake a full induction programme and there are procedures in place to ensure the safety of children.
"We take any allegations or criticism very seriously and will investigate these complaints and take appropriate action."
Written statement from Mark Warner in response to the findings in the BBC undercover investigation:
"It's company policy that all childcare staff employed by Mark Warner must supply two references and submit a form to check their criminal record. There were clearly two occasions where we failed to do this. That is completely unacceptable and we apologise. We have now reviewed and strengthened our procedures for hiring staff.
"We take the safety and security of children in our care extremely seriously. It is the reason why we replaced our very popular room listening service with a drop in crèche.
"Guests who've been on a Mark Warner holiday consistently tell us that the quality of our childcare is high.
"Eighty-nine out of the 93 nannies we currently employ have a professional childcare qualification. And every single one of our water sports instructors has a professional qualification."
Mark Warner never responded to the allegations regarding the lack of safety helmets for the children. Nor the fact that the BBC undercover reporter, and many other Mark Warner staff, were working illegally in Egypt.
Written statement from Just Learning in response to the findings in the BBC undercover investigation:
"The company has found that its rigorous policies and procedures have been seriously breached in this case and this was one factor considered when it decided to close this nursery.
"The issues at Cambourne are isolated to this one nursery. "The prescribed staff ratios should be maintained at our nurseries at all times and the company requires this. We do not condone any breaches the BBC has discovered.
"Choking hazards are very serious and any member of staff would be expected to be vigilant and to remove and dispose of them as well as raising awareness of other staff.
"The death of Georgia Hollick was the subject of a coroner's inquest. It did not find our first aid provision wanting – our staff did everything humanly possible to save Georgia's life. The company has expressed its regret and sympathy to Georgia's family. The health and safety investigation is still being carried out and we do not intend to comment upon it at present."
Written statement from Ofsted in response to the findings in the BBC undercover investigation:
"Ofsted makes 70,000 visits a year to check children and young people are safe, healthy and happy. Ours is the most intensive inspection and monitoring system in Europe.
"If Whistleblower has identified things that can be improved, we will want to consider them, including making recommendations to the government about possible future changes.
"Our inspections of nurseries and childminders are rigorous and the vast majority of our inspectors are highly skilled professionals who do a good job.
"Our policy of unannounced inspections keeps most nurseries and childminders on their toes.
"Parents have choices over where to place their children. Ofsted inspection reports are available on our website to help them.
"Childminders know a good report is important to their business. Where they don't improve, we take action."
We put to them our charge that they allowed Michael Fallon MP's position, as managing director of Just Learning, to influence their decision not to close the Cambourne nursery. They would not respond directly, but said: "Ofsted is independent. We report without fear or favour. Our reports are often critical of government initiatives. We make no apology for that."
SB http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7278514.stm The shocking truth behind daycare at nurseries and crechesBy IMOGEN WILLCOCKS Last updated at 08:10 06 March 2008 <!-- google_ad_section_start(name=s2) --> Britain's childcare industry is booming. Every working day, more than a million parents drop off their precious little cargos at childminders and private nurseries. All of them do it firm in the belief that those they trust with their babies are highly-qualified, strictly regulated and genuine, caring people. Terrifyingly, they are wrong. During an eight-month investigation for the BBC1 investigative programme Whistleblower, I uncovered a childcare culture where a new carer's criminal records and references are never checked, yet they will immediately be left alone with young, vulnerable children. Scroll down for more... 
Finding out the truth: Reporter Imogen Willcocks I was initially alerted to the scandal by an inspector for Ofsted (the government agency that regulates childminders and nurseries). She said that, as a parent of two children and having inspected 700 nurseries with her colleagues, she had found only five that she would have let her own children attend. She also said that Ofsted inspection reports - the only safeguards that parents have to go on when choosing a nursery - aren't worth the paper they're printed on. "We are literally skimming the surface," she said. "We are told constantly: "If you don't see a problem, don't look for one. Take a quick look and get out." "The priority for all Ofsted inspectors is to meet their targets. If they don't, they are disciplined. Targets take priority over safeguarding children." I decided to test these claims by going undercover and getting myself a job in a number of nurseries. I thought I would encounter difficulties since I had no children and, apart from a couple of babysitting stints, no experience of looking after babies and toddlers. Yet I needn't have worried. None of the nurseries with which I got jobs bothered to check my fake CV or fictitious references. Even Ofsted, which at least checked my criminal record, registered me as a childminder despite the premises where I was looking after the children not being at all suitable. My first job was at the Buttons nursery in Ealing, West London. We'd had a tip-off that its supervision of babies and toddlers was unacceptable. After a cursory interview, I was appointed as a nursery assistant. No one checked my references in the five weeks I was there and even though the law states that everyone working with children has to have their background checked by Home Office agency the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), the all-clear didn't come back until I had left. Buttons is based in a rambling, 19th-century detached house and caters to the area's professional middle classes. It was not cheap, charging £1,100 a month for a child who is dropped off at 8am and collected at 6pm. On my first day, I was terrified - partly afraid that my secret filming equipment would be discovered, but mostly because apart from a quick nappychanging lesson with a friend's baby, I had no clue how to look after children. As it turned out, no one noticed my inexperience. At 21, I was one of the oldest nursery assistants. Many were trainees and had no idea what they were supposed to be doing. There was no on-the-job training. Instead, we were thrown in at the deep end. At times I was on my own with as many as 13 children, even though the law says carers waiting for their CRB clearance should always be closely supervised at all times. And they shouldn't be allowed to change nappies and take children to the toilet. With so many children to look after, I could barely make sure they were safe, let alone care for them individually. Instead, it was just damage limitation - I found myself grabbing broken glass, sticks and sharp objects from children as young as three. One day, builders were brought in to fit guards to the radiators because one little boy - weeks earlier - had badly burnt his hand on one. Scroll down for more... 
Undercover: Imogen Willcocks is seen with children in this footage The other staff told me that the owner, Satnam Parhar, had blamed the staff for not supervising the burned boy properly and that he was only getting the guards fitted because an Ofsted inspection was due. The builders left their power tools inches away from where the children were playing and no one seemed to notice. I spent that particular session on tenterhooks. The nursery assistants at Buttons were poorly supervised and very poorly paid. I was on about £100 a week - less than the legal minimum wage. It's hardly surprising, then, that many of the staff were less than high-quality carers. I saw two nursery assistants hauling a boy across the nursery by his arm. Then I heard a child being called a "sh*t-bag" and saw a little girl's head being shoved into a mattress on the floor as she didn't want to go. When I complained to the owner that I had been left on my own with 13 children, he refused to accept what I was saying and called the idea crazy. When I contacted him later, saying I had been undercover for a TV programme, he issued a statement. "The care and safety of our children is of utmost importance. "New joiners to our staff undertake a full induction programme and there are procedures in place to ensure the safety of children. "We take any allegations or criticism very seriously and will investigate these complaints and take appropriate action." My next childcare job took me to a nursery with the worst possible history. In April 2006, a ten-month-old girl called Georgia Hollick had choked to death on a slice of apple at the Just Learning nursery in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire. The inquest found that her death was accidental and made no criticism of the nursery. However, a subsequent investigation by Ofsted found that children's health and safety were being compromised at the nursery. Nevertheless, it was allowed to reopen less than a month after her death. Just One day, I had to stop babies eating - and potentially choking on - small Christmas decorations that a member of staff had placed in the sandpit. It was unbelievable that just 19 months after a baby choked to death at this nursery, such chances were still being taken with child safety. Within days of the result of my investigation being put to them, Just Learning closed the Cambourne nursery and issued a statement saying: "The company has found that its rigorous policies and procedures have been seriously breached in this case and this was one factor considered when it decided to close this nursery. "The issues at Cambourne are isolated to this one nursery." But this still left the question of why such a failing nursery had previously survived a very critical Ofsted report following the death of a young child in its care. The BBC has been given an internal Ofsted document that refers to the Tory MP Michael Fallon, who was managing director of Just Learning at the time of Georgia Hollick's death. A passage says: "If we cancel this particular setting [nursery] then there are implications for Michael Fallon as he would be automatically disqualified [from running it]." Mr Fallon has since responded, saying: "This is news for me and a matter for Ofsted. I have had no discussions with Ofsted about the fatal accident at Cambourne. "I resigned as MD immediately afterwards. "I strongly endorse the decision of the Board to close the nursery. The breach of the company's procedures was completely unacceptable." After these two nurseries, I decided to investigate the self-styled upper end of the child-minding business, where I soon realised that the problems are not confined to our own shores. Mark Warner operates at the top of the holiday market, charging up to £8,000 for two weeks abroad for a family of four. It makes a point of offering "award-winning" childcare. That award-winning care didn't extend to checking my CV, contacting my references, doing a criminal records check or even asking to see some basic ID. Again, I could have been anyone. I worked at Mark Warner's swanky Hilton resort in Dahab, Egypt, where the luxurious hotel rooms are built to resemble a traditional whitewashed Arab village. Despite being promised two days' training at the interview, I was thrown straight in with a group of toddlers. Once, there were two of us looking after 13 children - when Mark Warner's own regulations state there should be no more than six per adult. When I asked about my training, the manager just said: "You don't get official training as such. It's very relaxed, very laid-back here." This is unlikely to be the approach parents think they are paying for. Next, I was asked to supervise the children on the beach. Again, no one had checked if I had any swimming or rescue qualifications. Even more worrying, I had to take children out on a boat without enough safety gear for all of them. When I raised the issue with my manager, he told me to go ahead with the boat trip anyway. Also, for such a prestigious company with an upmarket reputation, Mark Warner has a very cavalier attitude to the employment laws of the countries where it operates, and is not controlled by Ofsted. Like many of its staff in Dahab, I was there on a tourist visa. Mark Warner should have paid for work permits but instead had us break Egyptian law on their behalf. We were told we should just lie and say we were there on holiday, but Egypt is not the kind of country-where you want to end up in prison. Three weeks after I returned from Egypt, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from a Mark Warner resort in Praia da Luz in Portugal made headlines around the world. No one blamed the company or its staff for the little girl's disappearance, but given the case, I assumed the company would toughen up its vetting of nannies. To test this out, a BBC colleague applied for a Mark Warner childcare job and was sent to an upmarket French ski resort. Her false CV went unchecked and, months after the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the company still didn't do a CRB check before she started work. Later, I recounted my experiences to Mark Warner's managing director. He refused to be interviewed but issued a statement that said: "It is company policy that all childcare staff employed by Mark Warner must supply two references and submit a form to check their criminal record. "There were clearly two occasions where we failed to do this. That is completely unacceptable and we apologise. "We have now reviewed and strengthened our procedures." For the final part of my investigation, I discovered that even an inexperienced 21-year old with no qualifications can also fool Ofsted. I borrowed a large house, made no alterations to accommodate young children - despite the fact that no youngster had lived there for 20 years - and applied for a childminder's licence. I admitted to the Ofsted inspector who visited that I had no fireguard, no first aid kit, no stairgates, no safety glass or socket covers. I didn't even have a table for the children to sit at. The building was completely unsuitable. But I did say I had a wish-list containing all those items and planned to install them. That was enough for the inspector and I got the go-ahead. No one ever came back to check up that I had put them in place. When contacted, Ofsted said in a statement that it would consider making improvements based on the findings that I had uncovered. But it said: "Ours is the most intensive inspection and monitoring system in Europe. Our inspections of nurseries and childminders are rigorous and the vast majority of our inspectors are highly skilled professionals who do a good job. Ofsted is independent. We report without fear or favour." I don't yet have children but having seen what I've seen, I can't imagine I'll ever risk putting my own into childcare. ? WHISTLEBLOWER is on BBC1 tonight at 8pm. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-526248/The-shocking-truth-daycare-nurseries-creches.html#ixzz1BORqIR1z http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/790287/Whistleblower-Full-responses/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH Whistleblower: Full responses12 March 2008, 4:07pm
The nurseries and organisations included in the Whistleblower expose on bad practice in the early years sector have been quick to respond to the programme's accusations. We have printed their statements in full. It is company policy that all childcare staff employed by Mark Warner must supply two references and that we complete and submit a form to check their criminal record.
A1. We're disappointed that, on two occasions, we let our customers down by failing to properly follow our established procedures for obtaining references before staff started working for us. That shouldn't have happened and we apologise for this. As a result, we have reviewed and strengthened our procedures for recruiting childcare staff, to stop this ever happening again. Q2. What is your procedure for vetting childcare staff and how have you strengthened it following this programme? A2. Prospective childcare staff must provide two references and, where relevant, original professional childcare qualification certificates before being offered a job. They must also provide personal information to enable us to submit a Criminal Bureau check. The two incidents highlighted by the BBC show that these procedures were not followed and so we have retrained our recruitment staff to ensure that this does not happen again. Q3. Why did you let staff begin work without having received their CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) forms back? A3. There is no legal requirement for any holiday company operating overseas to obtain a CRB check for their staff and the majority don't. These checks are required in other sectors, like the NHS and teaching, for staff who work with children. However, at Mark Warner, we decided five yeras ago to voluntarily introduce these checks for our nannies and we were one of the first holiday companies to do so. Unfortunately, we have no control over the length of time it takes for the check to be run and sent back to us. We would like the process to be quicker, but even companies and organisations legally required to run CRB checks face the same problem. Q4. Your room listening service was criticised in the programme. What's your response to that? A4. Our room listening service has always been very popular with guests. Unfortunately we stopped offering this service in 2007 because it was impossible to provide room listening and guarantee guests that there would never be any safety or security issues. So, as a responsible holiday company, we took action and replaced room listening with supervised evening crèche facilities at all our resorts. Q5. The programme suggested that your nannies don't receive any training. A5. To be able to join Mark Warner, all prospective childcare staff must already have a professional childcare qualification - such as an NNEB or NVQ - or a proven track record of working with children. After they start work, all childcare staff follow an induction programme which takes them through our own internal procedures such as fire and evacuation; lost child procedures; health & hygiene, as well as an explanation of their specific role and responsibilities. Q.6 The programme suggested that children taking part in watersports aren't always supervised by staff who are competent in the water. A.6 When children are involved in any beachfront activity, our professionally qualified watersports staff are responsible for their safety. In a typical summer, we employ over 200 of these staff and every single one has a qualification in watersports and life saving. Their qualifications are from internationally recognised sporting bodies, such as the Royal Yachting Association and British Water Ski Federation. Q.7 The programme suggested that your childcare is not "award winning". What is your response to that? A.7 We have consistently received very high ratings from guests for the standard of childcare at our resorts. We have won an award from the children's baby charity Tommys for "Most Parent Friendly Tour Operator" as well as an award from Babygoes2.com and Ace Magazine awarded us a "Best for Families" award three years on the run for our resort - Lakitira in Greece. Q.8 The programme mentioned the ratio of nannies to children. What is the ratio of nannies to children at your resorts? A.8 In the UK, the Government's "Sure Start" guidelines on childcare state that the ratio should be one nanny to three Under 2's, one nanny to four 2 year olds and one nanny to eight 3 to 7 year olds. At Mark Warner, we not only comply with these ratios but, in some cases, better them. Q.9 The programme claimed that staff in your resort in Egypt are working illegally and Mark Warner is therefore breaking the law? A.9 The process of securing a work visa for staff in Egypt is lengthy and can take eight to nine months. We work closely with the Ministry of Labour to secure working visas for staff and the Egyptian authorities are aware that staff have to wait for their working visas to be processed. Q.10 The programme was critical of Mark Warner, so what reassurance can you now offer to customers? A.10 Over the past 25 years, we've taken hundreds of thousands of families on holiday. We've built our business on offering parents high quality childcare and a choice of first class resorts, with many guests writing to us each year to compliment us on the services we provided. We're disappointed that, on two occasions, the correct procedures for vetting and employing staff weren't followed. This is why we have already retrained staff and put in place measures to stop this happening again. We'd like to reassure customers that the safety, security and enjoyment of their holidays is our number one priority and always will be Mark Warner never responded to the allegations regarding the lack of safety helmets for the children. Nor the fact that the BBC undercover reporter, and many other Mark Warner staff, were working illegally in Egypt. |
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TinLizzy
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Re：Mark Warner & BBC Whistleblower Program Date Posted：01/18/2011 1:48 PMCopy HTML http://www.foundation-stage.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=12460 As for the Warner holidays set up-would you allow your small child to be transported in a speed boat with complete strangers even if they were wearing a helmet? None of them were strapped in and I was fearful for the little one without the helmet-he/she looked as though they were going to bounce out of the boat at one stage. Linda |
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Re：Mark Warner & BBC Whistleblower Program Date Posted：07/08/2011 8:13 PMCopy HTML This business about a ratio of 1 nanny to 8 children is rubbish.
We booked a Mark Warner holiday and have just been told our 7 year old daughter can't go to kid's club because she has Aspergers (mild - she goes to kids clubs at other hotels and school holiday clubs) and that there is only 1 nanny per 15 kids so the nanny wouldn't be able to cope. This even seems to break the Disability Discrimination Act, which states that people taking holidays should not be treated less well due to their disability. Cost, apparently, of making adjusments, is not a defence under the Act. After reading this site however, I'm kinda glad the kids will be with us. We were refused a refund and so will will probably take the holiday and never touch Mark Warner with a bargepole. |
Printable version
A failure to make criminal record and reference checks – The companies that featured in the programme all employed Imogen to look after young children without obtaining CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks, or speaking to any of her referees. 
