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By Rachel Lawler

 

The number of childminders in England has continued to decreased, according to the from аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±.

 

Released today, the figures show that there were 40,800 childminders registered with аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± on 31 August 2018. This is a decrease of 900 since March 2018 and a drop of 16,600 – or 29% – since August 2012.

Non-domestic childcare providers

The figures also show a slight increase in the number of non-domestic providers. аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± had 27,300 childcare providers registered on non-domestic premises. This is a slight increase since 31 March 2018.

 

The number of childcare providers rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± remains high at 95% and this has remained steady since 31 March 2018.

 

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, commented: “Childminders are a vital source of quality, flexible early years care and education, and so for us to have lost nearly a third of the childminding sector over the past six years is nothing short of a scandal.

 

"This is not a new trend or sudden drop: successive аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± statistical releases have shown a persistent decline for some time, and yet the Department for Education has yet to even acknowledge these shocking figures.

 

"With childminder agencies shown to be a complete waste of investment, and the recent scrapping of the Childcare Business Grant Scheme aimed at attracting new childminders into the sector, it remains unclear how, or even if, the government is planning to tackle this concerning trend.

 

"It is vital that ministers look to identify and address the challenges facing childminders, such as consistently inadequate funding rates, and unfair rules around claiming funding for related children, as a matter of urgency. Inaction is simply not an option. The government has promised parents affordable, flexible, high-quality care – childminders are a vital part of being able to deliver this."