Today (9 December) the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Save the Children has published a new report titled “The Childcare Challenge”.

Urgent call for reform

The report calls on Government to reform the early years and childcare system in England to meet the needs of all families, particularly the most disadvantaged. Key recommendations include:

• An improved early years funding system;
• Addressing regional disparities so that all families can access provision;
• More effective and joined-up early years services;
• A “full root and branch workforce strategy” to improve staff recruitment and retention;
• Expanded roles for local authorities in delivering high quality provision
• Reform of the SEND funding system.

A focus on childminders

The IPPR warns that at the current rate of decline, there will be only a “small handful” of childminders in England by 2033. It calls on central and local government to take action to strengthen the role of childminders in the early years and childcare system, recommending the following measures:

• Adopt a new national strategy on childminders;
• Require all local authorities to provide monthly payments;
• “Wind down” the agency model;
• Implement annual quality assurance visits between Ofsted inspections;
• Explore introducing a childminder friendly national digital platform and improve networks.

Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive at PACEY comments:

“We know that high quality early education and care can set children on a lifelong pathway to achieving their full potential. It is something that every single child, regardless of their circumstance, deserves, so today’s report from the IPPR and Save the Children should raise alarm. 

We have long known that children with SEND are frequently failed by the current system and likewise it is clear that children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are so often being let down. 

While PACEY continues to whole heartedly support the government’s Opportunity Mission it’s clear that the early education and care element of its delivery is not fit for purpose. 

Our sector and its dedicated professionals, including childminders, have been neglected for too long. As this report demonstrates, that can no longer be ignored. If we don’t act now so save the childminder workforce, they will soon be gone. 

Gone will be the smaller scale, home based settings that for many children are a haven of learning and creativity. Gone will be the childminders that go above and beyond to also support parents and carers, that offer flexible hours, that enable shift workers to do their job, that spend the extra time with children with SEND and that sit at the centre of their communities. 

And it is the communities highlighted in this report that need the support of childminders the most.  

So, PACEY continues to call for a childminder strategy to address the drastic decline in numbers. Not only do we need to preserve their current, brilliant work, we know that in areas of disadvantage and huge need, childminders can and want to do so much more.”