The work of PACEY has today (2 May) transferred into the Coram Group and will be known as Coram PACEY. In Wales, it will be known as Coram PACEY Cymru.
Coram PACEY has confirmed it will maintain all existing services members of PACEY received, and will continue with its hard work to reverse the decline of childminders.
According to PACEY’s website the association represented 14,000 early years providers and 50 per cent of all childminders in England and Wales.
PACEY's former chief executive, Helen Donohoe, will remain at the helm as head of Coram PACEY.
PACEY told Nursery World that it has been considering a partnership for a long time.
A spokesperson said, 'The Board have been considering a partnership for a long time now to secure a long-term strategy with the right investment for our sector, and for childminders in particular. During this process we also had some legacy issues stemming from the COVID pandemic, including unused offices. Therefore, as part of the transition we went through the legal process of administration to facilitate this.'
According to Coram, the work of PACEY complements its existing work, notably that of Coram Family and Childcare (CFC), which publishes an annual national childcare survey and is responsible for the National Association of Family Information Services and Parent Champions, along with Coram Hempsall’s that delivers project management, consultancy and capacity development in the early years and childcare sector.
Dr Carol Homden, chief executive of Coram (pictured), said, ‘Childminders are the bedrock of support for a significant proportion of children and their families and particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities. Coram is proud to welcome the team at PACEY and their vital work to ensure that children have the best possible support for their future.’
Helen Donohoe, head of Coram Pacey and former chief executive of PACEY, added, ‘This is an exciting development enabling the voice and experience of childminders and early years practitioners to be sustained and enhanced by our professional association as we look forward to our 50th anniversary in 2027.’
Who is Coram Group?
Coram was established as The Foundling Hospital in London by Thomas Coram in 1739 as a home for babies whose mothers were unable to care for them. It now operates as a charity group of specialist organisations, supporting hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families every year.
Today its work includes:
- Free legal services for children and young people who need support
- Annual childcare and holiday childcare surveys
- Adoption – matching children and families, and providing ongoing support
- The provision of therapy, drama and volunteer reading programmes in schools nationwide
- Advocacy for children and young people in and leaving care
- Best practice support for children’s services professionals, teachers and families
- Research and consultancy
In 2023, Coram took over childcare consultancy and training organisation Hempsall's, which supports organisations, early years providers and local authorities to deliver best practice.
In January 2024, Coram Hempsall's was appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) as the Delivery Support Contractor for the Early Years Entitlements and Wraparound Childcare expansions.
