To offer the free entitlement, a childminder must be a member of an accredited network, but it is a requirement that is turning out to prove onerous to some childminders and local authorities. It is also raising questions about how the networks need to develop if the free entitlement, and the EYFS, are to be delivered successfully.
Only a minority of childminders are offering the free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, according to the 2008 Early Years Census figures (News, 24 July). Announcing the figures, children's minister Beverley Hughes also revealed that only 72 local authorities have accredited childminding networks - less than half of the 150 authorities across England.
The National Childminding Association (NCMA) has set up 160 approved Children Come First (CCF) networks in England since 2005, representing the vast majority of existing networks. The CCF networks generally operate through children's centres and extended schools and offer Government-funded support. Of the 160, 101 can offer accreditation to deliver early education.
'We're not left behind, because that implies we're not trying,' Marian Pearson, director of operations at the NCMA, says. 'But from September, all childminders will have to deliver the EYFS and if there is no network in their area they will have no option to offer the free entitlement. There is a change in the whole environment, which has brought a whole range of views from childminders.'
'One of the key drivers for the CCF networks,' says Ms Pearson, 'was so childminders weren't excluded. Networks have two purposes, to improve quality and to allow childminders to provide early education. We would like to see more CCF networks being accredited to deliver the free entitlement. This would mean that more parents have a choice of using a registered childminder to provide their child with free early years education.
'We lobbied for childminders to be on a level playing-field for the free entitlement, but it isn't a level playing-field when a lot of local authorities don't have an accredited network,' she adds.
Lack of investment
Childminding networks are not viewed as central to delivering the free entitlement in some local authorities, with the resulting lack of investment contributing to their low numbers.
The London Borough of Islington is one example. Its head of Early Years Service, Alison Ruddock, says, 'As there are sufficient places in Islington's nursery settings to ensure the delivery of the free entitlement to all children, and by and large Islington parents expect their children to access nursery places once they are three, we have not targeted childminders and have no plans to. This is not because it's a bad option but because it's unnecessary, given the rich diversity of nursery settings, the majority of which include qualified early years teachers.
'Childminders do access EYFS training and are key providers of daycare for under-threes and "wraparound" care for over-threes.'
Bristol is one area that has simply made no investment in networks. A spokesman for Bristol City Council admitted there were no approved networks in the city and said they were 'looking into the situation'.
Where childminders are seen as key to meeting demand for childcare and delivering the free entitlement, network numbers are expanding. One such area is Lancashire, which has 17 networks - and the number is growing. Moyna Kemp is a childminding network co-ordinator for Lancashire County Council, with 12 childminders in her group accredited to gain free entitlement funding. 'I know some childminders feel left out of the free entitlement but it's not necessarily the networks' fault,' she says. 'It was the Government's decision to make networks compulsory for the free entitlement. As long as they are robust and fit for purpose, the CCF networks seem the best solution at the moment.'
Lack of support
It is not just Government policy or local authority strategy that have limited the growth of the networks, however. Despite many networks offering their members support, community and professional development, this has still not been enough of an incentive to join what some childminders view as an onerous way of working - accreditation involves regular visits to establish whether a childminder is working to the required standards.
Ms Kemp says, 'I don't know why some childminders are anti-network - it's not necessarily that onerous. The EYFS and free entitlement assessment is the same as general network assessing.
'Childminders can disagree with what I say and add comments. We talk about courses and professional development.'
Childminder Philippa Ashton, who is accredited through Ms Kemp's Bay area network, says, 'The paperwork had put me off, but a mother needed to take her child from two days to one because she wanted to use the free entitlement. I asked if it would help if I did this,' she says. 'So, one family's problem spurred me on. Once I started, I really enjoyed it.'
At the same time, many high-quality childminders are choosing to opt out, whether secure in their business or not. One outstanding childminder, who no longer belongs to a network, highlighted the issues for childminders.
'I didn't get enough out of my network,' she says. 'My parents forfeit the three- and four-year-old funding because of the continuity of care and the flexibility I offer. I've had their children from babies.'
She questioned her local authority's commitment. 'The number of childminders offering it is very low,' she says. 'There are 200 childminders in my authority and only five have finished the accreditation process. Some parents have been advised by the authority to take their children from a childminder to nursery for the free entitlement. The authority said it would be a more appropriate place.
'It's not fair. It's taking away free choice for parents and taking away our business. There is only one network in the area. The authority should have set up several networks as there is not enough funding for them to help individuals.'
This lack of investment, she believes, poses a threat not just to the free entitlement but to the success of childminders delivering the EYFS. Her degree in Early Education and Childcare means she is confident in delivering the EYFS, but she adds, 'Childminders at NVQ Level 2 or 3 might find it difficult. At Level 2 you would find it very daunting. Local authorities give advice and sessions and they do need extra guidance. It involves a lot of changes for childminders.
'One or two friends have said they will finish in September, because they don't think they can handle the paperwork.
'I think, "what a shame", because they are great childminders. There is an apprehension that local authorities will come within their home and their business. No-one wants to fail.'
Looking afresh
Another member of the successful Bay network, accredited childminder Jane Baxter, says some childminders need to look afresh at the potential benefits networks can bring.
'I'm a great believer in the networks, particularly mine. Accreditation for the free entitlement was the main reason I searched out the network and joined in 2005. It's been an excellent journey and enabled me to hang on to the three-year-olds I would have lost to nurseries without the funding. It's a huge advantage for the families at my setting because they feel their child is settled and can stay settled.'
Fears about the EYFS among childminders are unfounded, according to Ms Baxter. 'With fitting in early education, my advice is: do your routines. Don't deviate, but incorporate the education into them. You can create other projects from early education topics for all the children to do, with extra outings and activities,' she says.
However, she also conceded that there are too few networks and said local authorities should take responsibility.
'Maybe the people who are sticking their heads in the sand aren't offering the standards needed. More childminders should make the effort to join the networks to raise the professionalism. But having said that, there are not enough networks. Every time our network funding is up for review, it's a tense time for us.'
The NCMA and the DCSF are currently reviewing the CCF network model with a view to making them more accessible, says Ms Pearson.
'We're aware that in some areas networks are considered elitist because they only cater for small numbers of childminders,' she says.
'The number of networks is not growing fast at the moment. We are aware that the CCF model needs revising, so it has slowed down. We want to get more flexibility because at the moment it is quite a rigid model. Maybe we need to move away from visits every six weeks, so more childminders can be in the network.'
