Familes South West March 2004

61% of agencies fail Best Bear tests

When Best Best Childcare performed its annual review of 849 childcare agencies, 338 failed the test outright, 298 had closed or gone out of business since the last review and only 213 passed the test. Anybody can set up a private childcare agency, without qualifications or police checks. The Best Bear Childcare survey found that some were willing to send nannies to interviews having only spoken to them briefly on the phone. You can find agencies that met with Best Bear’s approval on the website, but be aware that some which passed their tests have chosen not to be listed. You shouldn’t assume that an agency is disreputable just because it’s not on the site. www.bestbear.co.uk.