Nursery World - NCMA networks a spur to training

More than half of childminders in approved childminding networks are qualified to level 3 or above, new research shows. Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, announced the findings at a conference on developing the childcare workforce in London last week.

Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, announced the findings at a conference on developing the childcare workforce in London last week.

She said, 'Not only are 51 per cent of childminders in NCMA's Children Come First networks across England and Wales now qualified at level 3 or above, but 22 per cent are working towards a level 3 qualification.'

Ms Haynes told Nursery World that this demonstrated 'equality of provision'

with staff in day nurseries and full-day care, 51 per cent of whom hold a level 3 qualification.

The figures from the research, carried out by the NCMA and the National Children's Bureau, contrast with remarks made earlier at the conference by children's minister Margaret Hodge about the sector as a whole. She said, 'I know that Gill agrees with me, in that with childminders we have a real quality concern, with only 16 per cent of childminders holding a level 3 qualification.'

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