Drop in male childminders

The figures show the number of male childminders halved from 1,200 to 600 between 2006 and 2007, while female childminder numbers had risen from 56,700 to 59,200 in the same period.

Liz Bayram, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, said: "The number of registered male childminders remains low at one per cent, but this is reflected across the childcare workforce."

Children's minister Beverley Hughes revealed the figures last week after being asked about the number and ratio of registered male and female childminders.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said men still did not see childcare as a viable career, but measures were in place to improve its status.