BBC news: Review of babysitting ban ordered

England's Children's Minister wants a review of the case of two police officers told they were breaking the law, caring for each other's children.

Ofsted said the arrangement contravened the Childcare Act because it lasted for longer than two hours a day, and constituted receiving "a reward". It said the women would have to be registered as childminders.

Minister Vernon Coaker said his department was talking to Ofsted about this particular case. The two detective constables, Leanne Shepherd, from Milton Keynes, and Lucy Jarrett, from Buckingham, told the BBC how Ofsted insisted they end their arrangement.

'Shocked'
Ms Shepherd, who serves with Thames Valley Police, recalled: "A lady came to the front door and she identified herself as being from Ofsted. She said a complaint had been made that I was illegally childminding. "I was just shocked - I thought they were a bit confused about the arrangement between us. So I invited her in and told her situation - the arrangement between Lucy and I - and I was shocked when she told me I was breaking the law. Reward is not just a case of money changing hands. The supply of services or goods and, in some circumstances, reciprocal arrangements can also constitute reward”.

Ms Jarrett added: "Our children were never in any harm, they were never in any danger. To think that they would waste their time and effort on innocent people who are trying to provide for their families by returning to the workplace... Surely their time and effort would be better placed elsewhere."

Thames Valley Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the pair had its "full support". Secretary Andy Viney said: "Both of them are experienced professional officers. "They just want to return to work after having children and have found that the system is working totally against them. "They've been threatened with prosecution by Ofsted if they continue doing this."

An Ofsted spokesman said it applied regulations found in the Childcare Act 2006, but was currently discussing the interpretation of the word "reward" with the department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). "Reward is not just a case of money changing hands. The supply of services or goods and, in some circumstances, reciprocal arrangements can also constitute reward. Generally, mothers who look after each other's children are not providing childminding for which registration is required, as exemptions apply to them, for example because the care is for less than two hours or it takes place on less than 14 days in a year. Where such arrangements are regular and for longer periods, then registration is usually required. Close relatives of children, such as grandparents, siblings, aunts or uncles, were exempt from the rules" he added.

Ofsted only operates in England, so this interpretation of the law on child care for "reward" applies to England rather than elsewhere in the UK.

Michelle Elliott, director of the children's charity Kidscape, told the BBC's Breakfast programme that the decision defied common sense and would impose extra childcare costs on families. She added: "These children were looked after in a secure environment with people that they knew. There must be thousands of people out there who are doing the same thing who are now going to think: 'Do I have to spend £300 a week or whatever it is?'" HAVE YOUR SAY This case highlights a total disconnect between the lawmakers of this country and what is custom and practice nationwide David Campbell, Cheshire

Minister for Children, Schools and Families Vernon Coaker insisted the Childcare Act 2006 was in place "to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children" but the government needed to make sure it did not "penalise hard-working families". "My department is speaking to Ofsted about the interpretation of the word 'reward' in this particular case," he said.

A petition to scrap the rules governing reciprocal child care on the Number 10 website had gathered more than 5,300 signatures by 0530 BST on Monday.

Anyone required to register to become a childminder would also have to undergo a criminal records check.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/8277378.stm
Published: 2009/09/28 06:32:06 GMT
© BBC MMIX

Sign the 15,000-strong petition here:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/reciprocalcc/

Guardian: University vice-chancellor considers female students a 'perk' of the job.

Buckingham University vice-chancellor defends remarks over female studentsDr Terence Kealey releases statement insisting that his article on Times Higher Education website was 'highly moral'

A university vice-chancellor was forced to defend himself tonight after writing an article which suggested female students were a "perk" to be enjoyed by lecturers.

Dr Terence Kealey, from Buckingham University, wrote on the Times Higher Education website last week, saying lecturers were aware of females who flaunted "their curves". The National Union of Students said it displayed an "astounding lack of respect for women".

Kealey released a statement today insisting that his article was "highly moral", and that its purpose had been to point out the inappropriateness of staff-student relationships. "It says that sex between middle-aged academics and young undergraduates is wrong," he said. "The crudeness of some of the examples was to underpin the inappropriateness of transgressional sex and that is a conventional literary device.

"Sex between staff and students is not funny and is not a legitimate source of humour but it is legitimate to use humour to illuminate the ways that people finesse the dissonance between what is publicly acceptable and what is sometimes privately desired."

The piece which has caused offence was a contribution by Kealey to an article headlined "The seven deadly sins of the academy", in which various academics gave advice on how fellow lecturers should conduct themselves.

He wrote 500 words on "Lust", where he pondered why universities "pullulate with transgressive intercourse", between "male scholars and female acolytes". Kealey, who studied at Oxford and has lectured at Cambridge and published the book Sex, Science and Profits, wrote that "the fault lies with the females". He said male academics should "enjoy" female students' affections, but warns academics, "as in Stringfellows, you should look but not touch."

His article prompted a series of comments on the website., including one which said: "It is appalling that THE permitted the deeply offensive comments about female undergraduates … to appear in its pages."

Another said that, in the pursuit of humour, Kealing "does a disservice not only to the many female scholars who have struggled to get a foothold in academia, but also the many bright female students who have got their good grades through nothing more exciting than hard work."

A spokeswoman for the university was "not aware" of any official complaints.

Two thoughts for a Monday

Thought it may be of interest to some that women are considered to be the next massive consumer market globally as we are so dissatisfied with what is currently on offer. See the Boston Consulting Group report at http://www.bcg.com/Media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-28183

While re-looking for my blog address on here (more computer problems) I came across the Pagans For Archaeology blog. They mention us here http://archaeopagans.blogspot.com/2009/03/women-in-archaeology.html

with some links to Wikipedia on some of the female archaeologists of the past and present. I haven't checked any of the Wikipedia entries for accuracy but if you wanted a list of women and a quick browse you can find it there!

Women in Media: Equal Representation Petition

The actors union Equity are petitioning for equal representation of women in film and tv. They are challenging the fact that there is only one woman portrayed for every two men in TV drama and that older actresses disappear (as their roles are largely love interest/eye candy etc).

The petition is here:

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/24658.html