Nursery World - Stick together

As a registered childminder I felt deeply insulted by the tone of Lindsay Byrne's letter, 'Nannies are not childminders' (9 May). How can childminders be regarded as professional childcarers when people in the same sector hold us in such low regard? Many childminders already hold the same qualification as Ms Byrne, and many of us, including myself, are studying at the moment for an SVQ in Early Years Care and Education as well as working full-time. We do not have the luxury of having time during the day to study and complete assignments.

How can childminders be regarded as professional childcarers when people in the same sector hold us in such low regard? Many childminders already hold the same qualification as Ms Byrne, and many of us, including myself, are studying at the moment for an SVQ in Early Years Care and Education as well as working full-time. We do not have the luxury of having time during the day to study and complete assignments.

Also, as a mother, I would feel happier taking my children to a childminder, who has undergone thorough checks by both police and the social work department, than employing a nanny who has a qualification but nothing else.

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