In a consultation launched on Monday, the DfES announced a new service to approve the training and suitability of individual carers providing unregulated childcare and for providers of care for over-7s.
It also announced that tax credits would be available to parents using such carers, but not to parents whose relatives provide childcare.
Stephen Burke, director of the Daycare Trust, said: "We have long campaigned for the registration of nannies to close a major loophole in the regulatory system. Light touch accreditation is a step in the right direction, but it is primarily designed to enable parents to get tax credits and tax breaks. Why isn't the current regulatory system extended to cover all forms of childcare? Ofsted should be asked to regulate childcarers to ensure consistent standards and avoid confusion among parents."
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