The future of childminding has been looking ever brighter recently. The steep fall in numbers of childminders over the past few years appears to have bottomed out, with a small rise to 70,200 in the most recent Ofsted figures. The vast majority of these have been judged in inspections to provide at least 'satisfactory' care, with four out of ten given the top rating of 'good'.
The image of childminding has really been transformed of late, with the establishment of the networks, greater emphasis on training, and the involvement of minders in schemes such as Sure Start and wraparound care.
Professionalism is high on the agenda and this means that the status of childminders is rising.
The latest scheme is a very considerable investment aiming to stop new entrants dropping out with the use of mentors, and to improve the professional approach with training and business advice. Childminding should increasingly look to be an attractive career option.
