Childminders fear agencies will drive up care costs

A survey of 1,000 childminders found that 86 per cent believed the introduction of agencies would increase their business costs, which could mean charges for parents would have to go up.

This comes in stark contrast to the Department for Education claims when the agency model plans were launched earlier this year that childminders would save money.

The survey was carried out by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) and funded by the Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years (Pacey).

IPPR researcher Imogen Parker said: “Childcare costs in England are too high for parents. But childminders believe the current proposals do little to make childcare more affordable, indeed agency fees could push costs even higher.

“There is little evidence that reforms will lower prices or boost quality, both of which are key aims of the government’s reform agenda.”

Liz Bayram, Pacey’s joint chief executive, said the introduction of agencies poses “a serious risk to the sustainability of the childminding profession.” She added: “The IPPR research shows that childminders are not supportive of this measure with the vast majority of childminders questioned believing it would increase, not lower the cost to parents.”
 
Last week there was further criticism from the early years sector of the plans as it emerged that agencies could charge parents.

There was also concern from childminders that the move would drive down standards through agency-wide rather than individual Ofsted inspections.

One childminder told researchers: “People with weak Ofsted reports may be tempted to join an agency so that they can claim the agencies overall inspection rating. You would not get a true reflection on the individual childminder's abilities and standards which would be detrimental to any parent and child who is placed with them.”

Just seven per cent of those surveyed supported the idea of Ofsted inspecting agency childminders collectively rather than at an individual level.

The DfE intends to launch pilot agencies this year with the first agencies starting in 2014.