The Department for Education and Skills-commissioned report, entitledChildren's Centres' Work with Childminders, said "only a third (ofcentres) could confirm they worked with quality-assured networks, andonly a fifth with (the association's) Children Come First networks".
Liz Bayram, chief executive of the association, said councils needed todo more to recognise the need for quality-assured childmindingnetworks.
"Local authorities need to understand the importance of networks interms of retaining childminders," she said. "They provide a way tosupport registered childminders and integrate them with children'scentres."
Eighty-eight per cent of the 101 children's centres surveyed for thereport were working with childminders "in their locality". But nearlyone in 10 centres admitted to having no contact with childminders.
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