CYP Now - Tackling the fall in childminders

The past decade has seen a step decline in the number of childminders. Jo Stephenson assesses the role that difficult relations with Ofsted and regulatory pressures have played and what needs to change,

Childminding now competes with many other flexible career choices that may be less challenging and better paid. Picture: Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock

There has been a steady decline in childminder numbers over the past decade and the profession is now “getting to crisis point”, according to Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey).

“We can’t let this continue because ultimately in another 20 years families won’t have childminding as a choice,” she says. “From our point of view that is a disaster because it is an important part of the childcare market and offers a very particular experience for children, especially young babies or those who are maybe not ready for a group setting.”

While the rate of people leaving the profession has remained stable, the number joining is falling, explains Bayram.

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