Our policy work
PACEY represents its members to policy makers at all levels of government, working to ensure that members’ needs and views are taken into account and ensure children get the best start in life.
From campaigning on ratios and regulations, to responding to government consultations, PACEY works with national and local government in England and Wales to help shape and influence early years policy.
We’re also commissioned by local and national government to provide services to early years professionals, including training for childminders and promoting childcare as a profession. And we offer a specific package of support to local childcare providers through local authorities.
A Manifesto for Childminders
To mark Childminding Week 2024, PACEY unveiled its new Manifesto for Childminders calling for urgent government action to address plummeting childminder numbers ensuring children have the very best start in life.
Childminders are highly skilled and passionate childcare professionals who are sadly facing multiple barriers including rising costs, inadequate funding levels, and a continued lack of recognition within the education sector. Over the years tweaks to policies and the early years system have failed to address the rapid decline.
Please support our manifesto by reading, sharing and continuing to support our work to recruit and retain childminders.
Big membership survey 2024
PACEY’s BIG Membership Survey 2024 collected the views of over 500 members.
We asked questions about providers’ experience, qualifications and training, working conditions, finances and future plans as well as seeking views on big issues facing the sector, such as the expansion of the entitlement scheme.
The data collected is invaluable in helping PACEY raise the profile of early years providers, champion the work they do and fight on their behalf to improve working conditions.
PACEY In England
PACEY works closely with central government in England to help shape early years policy, offering advice and advocacy on behalf of our members.
We also meet regularly with elected Ministers and representatives of non-ministerial departments such as Ofsted.
In the last 12 months, PACEY has shared members’ views with Westminster government officials, MPs, Lords and Ministers on the following issues:
- The cost of childcare-funded early years education places for 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds and the affordability of childcare, for parents and providers
- Qualifications pathways and continuous professional development (CPD)
- The new Tax-Free Childcare funding scheme and other financial support
- Childcare in schools and baseline testing proposals
- School readiness and the importance of play
- Ofsted’s inspection and statistics.
You can make your voice heard and contribute to PACEY’s work in talking to government by getting involved with the PACEY community.
PACEY in Wales
PACEY Cymru works closely with the Welsh Government and others to influence children's futures and represent childcare professionals' views. Our dedicated service in Wales shapes national, regional and local early years policy.
To do this, PACEY Cymru works with members, other childminders and partners across Wales, including local authorities, the Welsh Government and their statutory agencies.
PACEY Cymru:
- is a source of information and expertise to the Welsh Government and its statutory agencies, including the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales
- represents the childcare and early years sector on a national level
- helps the Welsh Government to achieve their outcomes and aims for children and young people, early years and childcare settings, and the childcare and early years workforce
- supports Social Care Wales and Qualifications Wales in their work ensuring that the childcare and early years workforce in Wales is a high standard, and are confident and competent
- works in partnership with four leading childcare organisations in Wales as 'Cwlwm' to support the aim that families across Wales can access affordable, quality childcare.
For more information about PACEY Cymru and our services in Wales, please email paceycymru@pacey.org.uk.
How can I get involved or voice my concerns?
Have you got a concern related to government policy?
Contact PACEY’s policy team. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
- Keep up to date with the latest early years policy news with our policy updates
- Respond to a public consultation, either UK wide, or England or Wales only
- Contact your MP, AM or local councillor by letter, telephone or email. Find out who they are here.
- Contact PACEY’s policy team in England or Wales
Latest News
Keep up to date with everything that's happening in the childcare sector
DfE announces initiatives around early years qualifications
Take PACEY’s BIG Membership Survey
The UK’s Largest Early Education Event Returns to London in 2025
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