Quarterly statistics on the number of registered childcare providers and places up to the end of August show a drop in the number of childminders for the seventh time in a row.
There are now 63,600 childminders in England, down from 67,443 in September last year and 71,200 in September 2006.
The latest quarterly figures are not directly comparable because they only show the previous two months. Figures for September have not been included because of the move to the Early Years Foundation Stage from 1 September, suggesting the true number could be lower.
Oftsed said the latest publication for childcare providers and places was the final one from the previous early years framework and that a new one was being developed to show the data to be published in the New Year.
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