Childminders see 10 per cent drop in two years
The number of childminders has dropped more than 10 per cent in the past two years, the latest figures from Ofsted show.
Registered childminders Sept 06 - Aug 08
Quarterly statistics on the number of registered childcare providers and places up to the end of August show a drop in the number of childminders for the seventh time in a row.
There are now 63,600 childminders in England, down from 67,443 in September last year and 71,200 in September 2006.
The latest quarterly figures are not directly comparable because they only show the previous two months. Figures for September have not been included because of the move to the Early Years Foundation Stage from 1 September, suggesting the true number could be lower.
Oftsed said the latest publication for childcare providers and places was the final one from the previous early years framework and that a new one was being developed to show the data to be published in the New Year.
An Ofsted spokesperson said, ‘Under the EYFS, provider types have changed drastically. Therefore, we cannot compare provider and place numbers across frameworks.’
The National Childminding Association (NCMA) said it was concerned about the figures, which showed a 1 per cent drop over the last quarter, and it was monitoring the impact of the EYFS and the changing registers.
Andrew Fletcher, director of communications, said, ‘NCMA is continuing to monitor the trends closely to ensure childminders are supported to remain sustainable, so that parents who want their children to derive the many benefits of a home setting have that option open to them locally.’
But he stressed that ‘strong numbers’ of childminders were still registering every month, while there were a number of reasons for childminders to leave.
‘In some areas there is increased competition from group providers, which challenges the sustainability of some settings,’ Mr Fletcher said. ‘In addition, childminders are using their professional skills to move into other childcare roles.’
The NCMA said it was crucial during the early stages of EYFS that childminders were supported by local authorities and other agencies to appropriately evidence, without unnecessarily increasing administration, and to understand self-evaluation as part of the inspection process.
Children’s minister Beverley Hughes sought to reassure childminders and dispel ‘myths of an industry in crisis’ in her speech to the NCMA conference in Southport on 8 November.
She said, ‘Any service industry will experience highs and lows. I know that in some areas childminders continue to experience unwanted vacancies that make sustaining their businesses a challenge during these difficult economic times. We are doing what we can to help. But what is important is that the long-term trend is one of continued demand for childminders.’
