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Number of registered childminders continues to decrease

By Rachel Lawler
 
toddler dandelion
The number of childminders registered with Ofsted decreased by 800 in the first three months of 2019.
 
According to released by Ofsted today, on 31 March 2019 there were 2% fewer childminders registered than on 31 December 2018 鈥 down to 39,000 in total.
 
Long-term concerns
This is part of a long-term trend, which has seen the number of childminders drop by 9,000 since 2015.
 
The number of non-domestic providers has remained largely stable, with a 1% decrease since 2015 and an increase of fewer than 100 between 31 December 2018 and 31 March 2019.
 
Troubling trend
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the 无码天堂, said: 鈥淚f we want a flexible, quality early years sector then childminders are a vital part. It鈥檚 deeply troubling to see the number of childminders continue to fall at such a dramatic rate.
 
鈥淭his is a long-standing problem not helped by government interventions, such as childminder agencies and the business grant scheme, which have been high on cost and low on impact. The government needs to get a grip, stop playing around the edges of this crisis and start addressing its root causes. Like all providers childminders are struggling with funding but they are also unfairly punished when it comes to looking after for related children.
 
鈥淚f the government want childcare at its most convenient and affordable then childminders need to be at the centre of their early years policy.鈥
 

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