Simona McKenzie's plea followed announcements made last week by Ofsted that domestic childcare settings would not be subject to the same improved inspections framework as non-domestic settings.
The childminder and campaigner spoke out after Truss reiterated her comments to the Daily Mail that British childcare was inferior to that offered in French nurseries during a BBC Newsnight interview.
Truss was quoted as saying UK nurseries are “chaotic” and the nation's under-fives have “no sense of purpose”.
McKenzie called on the minister to conduct a “more positive and engaging conversation” with childminders.
“Truss has got to lead 96,000 providers," said McKenzie.
"If she doesn’t engage with us positively, how will she win our trust? She needs to understand our needs.
"It’s become an unacceptable battle."
McKenzie warned that Truss’s proposals to create childminder agencies would negatively impact the work of childminders who remained independent.
“We have four months left before the new agencies are piloted," she said.
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