Nursery World - Childminders drop out of workforce

New research suggests the number of registered childminders in England will continue to fall, despite an increase in the number of childcare places in recent years. A report, Who cares? Childminding in the 1990s, published this week by researchers at London University's Institute of Education and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, cites Government statistics showing that the number of registered childminders in England fell by 30,000 between 1992 and 2000 from 106,000 to 76,000.

A report, Who cares? Childminding in the 1990s, published this week by researchers at London University's Institute of Education and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, cites Government statistics showing that the number of registered childminders in England fell by 30,000 between 1992 and 2000 from 106,000 to 76,000.

Possible reasons for the decline suggested in the report include fewer parents with young children being interested in becoming childminders; low pay and low status; more flexible working hours in other types of employment; and increasing regulatory demands by local authorities and by Ofsted, as well as a perceived lack of support from local authorities.

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