There has been a steady decline in the number of childminders in recent years, with many more leaving the profession in the past year alone.
The childcare sector as a whole has struggled with recruitment and retention, but childminder numbers have dropped at a faster rate than any other type of early years provider.
The most recent data from Ofsted shows there were 27,000 childminders registered with Ofsted as of August 2023 – down 2,580 on the previous year.
Research by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey) shows a multitude of reasons for leaving the profession including loneliness and isolation, poor pay and underfunding, and lack of support and training.
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