West Bromwich nursery schools inspector charged with child sex offences

Nov 8 2009 by Paul Cole, Sunday Mercury

Ian Knight

West Midlands Police confirmed a 50-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of sexual offences.

Many schools inspectors are former school heads or deputy heads. All have to have experience as a teacher or further education lecturer.

There are two types: Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) are civil servants employed by Ofsted. Additional inspectors work under contract to Ofsted for partner organisations.

Childcare inspectors must have significant experience in a childcare setting. Inspectors are based in their own homes but spend much of their time conducting inspections in childcare facilities, schools and colleges.

Those working for the education watchdog earn about £25,000 and £31,000 a year. Additional inspectors earn up to £400 per day, or are seconded to Ofsted on their current salary. HMI inspectors take home £58,000 to £62,500.

Ofsted usually advertises vacancies in The Times Educational Supplement and applicants are expected to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check before taking up posts.

An Ofsted spokesman told the Sunday Mercury: “We were made aware of the police investigation into this individual and immediate appropriate action was taken in conjunction with the inspection service provider for whom he worked. He has not carried out any work for Ofsted or the provider since that time.”

The charges come weeks after unconnected cases emerged involving child abuse suspects linked to children’s nurseries. It emerged that a heavily-pregnant mother of eight arrested in a Facebook paedophile ring probe had worked at a nursery.

Tracy Lyons, 39, was held following an investigation into a child-sex ring involving a nursery in Plymouth. The case against Lyons emerged just a week after nursery worker Vanessa George admitted abusing dozens of toddlers at Little Ted’s in Plymouth.