The national wrap-a-round childcare programme launched last September, providing grant funding to local authorities in England to help ensure sufficient before and after-school childcare in their area.
Of those childminders that took part in PACEY’s survey, 76 per cent said they are aware of the programme, yet only a quarter have received direct communication from their local authority about it. Just 8 per cent said they are aware of who their local authority designated wrap-a-round lead is.
Under the breakfast club programme, which is being piloted from next month, schools can deliver the provision themselves or work in partnership with PVI providers, including childminders. However, just 12 per cent of survey respondents said they have received communication from their local authority in relation to it.
Over 45 per cent of childminders who took part in PACEY’S survey said they are worried that upcoming breakfast club programme, along with the wrap-a-round offer, will have a ‘negative’ or ‘very negative’ impact on their business.
Helen Donohoe, PACEY chief executive, said, ‘Given that numbers of childminders are already plummeting this data is hugely worrying.
‘Despite our success in securing the inclusion of childminders in the guidance on the delivery of the national wrap-a-round and breakfast club programme, the reality on the ground is that they are losing out on a significant scale. It is an example of how unintended consequences hit childminders so badly.
‘Over three quarters of our members provide wraparound care, and with many struggling to make ends meet with the entitlement funding for three- and four-year-olds, the provision of such care should be a favourable business model. Urgent intervention is needed because our poll data suggests that will not be the case.
‘We are therefore continuing to call on the Government to take proactive, childminder-focussed action to address the neglect of the profession and turn around the rapid decline. That action needs to be part of a long-term strategy focussed on recruitment and retention of childminders in areas of the country where they can make the biggest difference.’
