Quality comes first

I feel compelled to write in response to the letter 'Nannies are not childminders' (9 May). The National Childcare Strategy has put a great deal of emphasis on giving childminders the professional recognition they deserve and providing parents with a quality assurance. The development of Children Come First childminding networks is a major step for childminding. Childminders involved in this are providing an extremely high standard of care. Many are also undertaking further training in their own time, in addition to the statutory Introducing Childminding Practice. The Certificate in Childminding Practice takes approximately two years to complete. Network childminders are...