Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive at PACEY
February will see the launch of the much-anticipated Department for Education recruitment campaign for the early education and childcare sector in England, and at PACEY we have worked hard to make sure the content and messages encompass the whole sector and that of course includes childminders.
It’s imperative, although sometimes difficult, that we fully represent childminders and remind families and parents, and indeed sometimes the wider sector, of the distinct work that they do. Thankfully, with the establishment of the Childminder Unit in England and from conversations I have had with officials and the Minister Johnston I am confident that the role of childminders is much better understood amongst decision makers in government. In Wales work related to the Independent Review of Childminding is ongoing, looking at actions linked to the recommendations that were published in Summer 23. Colleagues in Wales also work closely with decision makers to share the voice of members.
As welcome as the recruitment campaign is in England and onging work in Wales, we need to urgently consider how we retain the skilled and experienced childminders that we already have. The trend of childminders leaving the profession remains alarming and, given how long it takes for a new childminder to set up their practice and become established, we must now consider how we are going to sustain the childminding workforce, not least with the roll out of the 9 month old offer in England in September just over the horizon and the ongoing expansion of Flying Start in Wales.
It is widely acknowledged that childminders will be vital in the successful expansion of the childcare in England and Wales. Although more research is needed, there is every likelihood that a home-based childminder setting will be favoured by many parents for their 9 month olds, above a group setting. That, and the importance of childminders for children with SEND/ALN and, for example, the children of parents who work shifts or erratic working patterns, means that action is needed now to remove the unnecessary challenges that making running a childminding setting unsustainable for many.
At PACEY we are contacted regularly by childminders who are at the end of their tether. Most recently we have been hearing about the dreadful experiences many are having with the transition to Universal Credit. In short, the one size fits all model for Universal Credit does not fit with the unique circumstances of childminding. For example, the minimum income floor is new and doesn’t account for the income variances that childminders experience. Variable and often low incomes can be a result of the impact of looking after their own children, and/or the adult:child ratios/space requirements in the EYFS/NMS, or being paid termly at pre-determined fixed rates, only working in term time and/or caring for children with SEND/ALN whose needs can only be met by working at a reduced ratio.
One year ago, 27% of providers said they had no more spaces for children with SEND. Once the new entitlements come in this will rise to 57%- Data from the Dingley’s Promise manifesto
Many of our members tell us that they feel the rigid Universal Credit system just doesn’t fit with the nature of the work with childminders. We’ve heard of work coaches requesting meetings during the day when childminders have children in their care. Furthermore, although childminders run their business from their own home, they are extremely limited in what expenses they can claim under Universal Credit. For example, they can only claim £26 a month for wear and tear. This is not the same as allowed by the previous system whereby childminders claimed expenses based on HMRC criteria. The issues with Universal Credit impact on childminders across England and Wales and therefore PACEY will be campaigning to address the anomalies and inequitable rules across both countries.
‘I’m a single mum and I am already have 2 jobs so am thinking I’m going to have to get an employed job to survive. I think the DWP don’t understand how we work or what we do.’ PACEY member
Another issue that we often hear about is that of related children, and it is an area that Wales are far ahead on with them including non-residing, related children in funding entitlements back in 2018. The definition of “childcare” in the Childcare Act 2006 excludes care provided for a child by parents or any other relatives. In England, the government has interpreted this to mean that childminders cannot deliver the early years and childcare entitlements to any children related to them by blood or marriage, whom they may already be looking after for payment. Other important forms of childcare support in England do permit parents to use related childminders. This includes Tax-Free Childcare, childcare vouchers, Working Tax Credit and Universal Credit, as long as they are Ofsted-registered and caring for the child outside the child’s home. Furthermore, the ban on related children in England is unique to childminders; individuals working in or owning a nursery, school or pre-school are permitted to deliver the entitlement to related children.
We estimate that just over a third of childminders currently have at least one child in their setting related to them. Thousands of childminders in England are therefore losing on average £5,000 per year for each 30-hour place. This will only worsen with the further entitlement roll out. We believe that relatives of registered childminders, including nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, should not be forced to move to a new childcare setting in order to take up their childcare entitlement, greatly disrupting their continuity of care. So along with Income Support, PACEY will soon launch its campaign for related children, because we must do everything we can to keep the option of early education and childcare with a childminder open to all.
