Children’s groups demand widespread change

Children’s groups have demanded widespread changes to the administration and inspection of childcare settings after the Prime Time report raised serious concerns about the level of care being offered to families.

The Children’s Rights Alliance said scenes shown in the programme, including toddlers being placed in rooms on their own or being restrained for lengthy periods, was “harrowing” and “unacceptable”.

The alliance’s acting chief executive, Maria Corbett, said: “Clearly, there must be consequences for any incident of ill-treatment of children. There must also be a political response to improve the quality of care in creches and other child-minding facilities.”