Calls to stop regulation of such arrangements have attracted strong public support and the majority of feedback from a consultation with parents, childcarers and other organisations has been supportive of the move.
The amendment will not affect professional childminders and will be supported by revised Ofsted guidance highlighting when and where childcare arrangements are considered to be formal and within its inspection remit.
Children’s minister Dawn Primarolo welcomed the move, which will come into force next month. This strikes the right balance between ensuring the quality and standards of formal childcare while protecting informal arrangements between friends, she said.
But concerns have been raised by National Childminding Association joint chief executive Catherine Farrell, who said: "While we are reassured that the Secretary of State has recognised the importance of retaining parental choice in relation to childcare, we feel that this shouldn’t be at the expense of quality and safeguarding of children. It is important that wider registration and regulation requirements are not undermined."
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