Childminders should be wary of pilot agencies, warns early years expert

Denise Burke, director of United for All Ages and Good Care Guide, said uncertainty over the costs involved and how they will be inspected are factors that should make childminders think carefully before registering with pilot agencies.

The DfE launched its childminder agencies pilot scheme in September with the aim of supporting childminders with training and business advice, while making it easier for parents to access home-based childcare.

The government also hopes the agencies will encourage more individuals into the profession while reducing the cost of childcare for parents.

But Burke said: “I have never believed it is the answer to getting more childminders in the sector or that it would give us affordable childcare.

“We know that the agencies have got to be self-funded so you then have to say somebody has got to make charges. They have got to come either directly from the childminder who is registered or that cost has got to be passed onto parents in other ways.

“My other concern at the moment is that Ofsted, as yet, has not developed its inspection and regulation model. We also don’t know the cost that Ofsted is going to charge the agency.”

Earlier this week, the DfE unveiled the names of the 20 organisations taking part in the pilot. More than half are local authorities, which Burke fears could have financial implications for childminders in the future.

She said: “They may well be able to absorb some of the cost but local authorities are having cuts on their funding year-on-year and while some trials will be able to keep costs relatively low at the start, the costs could well go up when local authority funding is deemed to be a priority elsewhere.”

Liz Bayram, the chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), echoed Burke’s concerns.

She said: “It’s vital that there is transparency through this pilot stage so both childminders and parents can make a fair judgment for themselves whether agencies will deliver the improvements the government is hoping for.