
The inspectorate’s figures for August this year show there were 26,000 childminders, down by 1,060 (4%) over the last 12 months.
Over the last decade the number of childminders has more than halved, from 56,000 in 2013, the figures also show.
The dip in their numbers accounts for “most” of an overall decline in the number of childcare and early providers over the same period.
This summer there were 61,200 providers registered, down by 1,030 since last year, according to the inspectorate.
“The continued trend of plummeting childminder numbers, which accounts for the vast majority of the decline of overall providers, remains deeply concerning,” said Early Years Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch.
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