'Worrying' lack of demand for childminders ahead of 30 hours rollout

A survey of almost 2,000 early years professionals across England by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey) found childminders are being "overlooked" by parents and councils for government-funded childcare places.

The survey found that 60.5 per cent of childminders offer funded places for three- and four-year-olds, but 38.4 per cent do not.

When practitioners were asked why they are not offering funded places, nearly half (49 per cent) said it was because no parent had asked for a place. Pacey says this indicates a "worrying lack of demand from parents".

Pacey chief executive Liz Bayram said: "There are frequent reports that parents can't find the childcare they need, yet our research shows childminding has the capacity to be a significant part of the solution.

"Childminders could deliver more funded places, but many parents don't know they can access funding from a childminder."

She called on councils to do more to promote childminders among parents looking for funded provision. And she wants government to improve the hourly funding rate, which 52 per cent of childminders told Pacey was a reason for not offering funded places.

"There remain significant concerns about funding - the low funding hourly rate is the single biggest barrier to childminders offering funded places - and this needs to be urgently addressed by government," Bayram said.

Unless action is taken around funding and promoting childminders, Bayram fears many will quit. Our research gives a clear message of 'use us or lose us'," she added. 

Last month Department for Education figures revealed that 25,400 childminders were planning to offer the 30 hours entitlement, compared with 23,600, who offer the current 15 hours.