Childminder numbers continue to fall
Laura McCardle
Monday, October 28, 2013
The number of registered childminders in England is continuing to decline, according to figures published by Ofsted.
The latest data on childcare providers and places, reveals a net decrease of 840 childminders, from 54,778 to 53,938 from March this year until the end of September.
The declining number of childminders led to a reduction in the number of places available for children, with a loss of 3,608 places from 277,422 to 273,814 during the same period.
An Ofsted spokesman said the latest figures reflect a steady decline in the number of providers and places, which has been happening since the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage in 2008.
Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), wants greater support to be given to existing childminders, as well as to those interested in joining the profession.
“We know that the government is doing much to support childminding sustainability, including making it far easier for childminders to receive funding to deliver the free early education entitlement and providing start-up grants," Bayram said.
"But these positive interventions are being outweighed by reducing support from local authorities, who have traditionally recruited new childminders and provided them with support to establish their business.
“Pacey wants government to do more to encourage local authorities to recognise that childminding is a crucial part of the childcare market, as well as supporting those already in the profession to deliver new initiatives such as the two-year-old offer, and recruit new childminders where they identify gaps in the local childcare market.”
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, finds the data concerning but is not surprised by the continued decline.
He said: "Many childminders tell us that recent changes to regulation, funding and inspections have created an environment of uncertainty across the whole sector, with some concerned about remaining independent once childminding agencies are introduced and many believe agencies will become compulsory in time.
"The childminder agency trials are unlikely to reassure the sector that agencies are the way forward. Many see the trials as a way to recruit more childminders to compensate for the current decrease, however they will not replace the valuable skills and experience of those leaving."
The number of overall childcare providers during the period fell by 507 from 95,987 to 95,480, causing a loss of 9,094 places from 1,309,339 to 1,300,245.