The work, being carried out by the National Childminding Association (NCMA), is in response to government concerns that places are currently limited to ensure every childminder is sufficiently monitored by a network co-ordinator.
Andy Fletcher, director of communications at NCMA, said: "The new model means that once one set of childminders achieves a Level 3 NVQ qualification we can bring in a new set, as the more experienced and qualified childminders will not require the same level of interaction with the network co-ordinator."
At present, childminders can only access the free entitlement if they are part of a regional network that has been approved through the NCMA's own quality improvement scheme Children Come First. This is the only quality assurance scheme for childminders in the country and ensures everyone is working towards a Level 3 NVQ qualification.
In the recently updated childcare strategy, the Department for Children, Schools and Families questioned the effectiveness of the NCMA's Children Come First model, referring to anecdotal evidence suggesting that "places on childminder networks are unavailable in certain areas, which restricts childminders with appropriate qualifications from delivering the free offer".
It is hoped that the new model will roll out in the spring and continue to drive up quality as well as numbers.
