Alliance comments on fall in childminder numbers

13th November 2014

Commenting on the latest 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 statistics on registered childcare providers and places in England, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said:

鈥淲e are concerned to see such a sharp decline in the number of childminders in the early years sector.

鈥淐hildminders play a crucial role in the provision of high-quality, flexible early education and care in this country, and yet all too often they are unfairly overlooked and dismissed by both government and 新澳门六合彩官网开奖. Add to this the continued uncertainty over the impact of childminder agencies, the decline in local authority support and guidance, and the ongoing lack of adequate free entitlement funding and it is unsurprising that so many childminders are choosing to leave the sector.

鈥淚t鈥檚 vital that the government recognises the value of the services that childminders provide to children and families and ensures that they are adequately supported 鈥 both financially and practically 鈥 to continue providing them.鈥

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Notes for editors

  • The statistics
  • The figures show that:

- between 31 March 2014 and 31 August 2014, 1938 childminders joined the early years sector, while 3,311 childminders left - a net loss of 1373 childminders (2237 childcare places).
- between 30 September 2013 and 31 March 2014, 2819 childminders joined the early years sector, while 4968 childminders left - a net loss of 2149 childminders (8,447 childcare places.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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