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In 'Strength in numbers' (23 August) Peter Moss suggests that the apparent decline in the number of childminders could be due to better-paid jobs on offer and says that childminders 'are nearly all lower-educated women'. How patronising! There may well be some lower-educated women in the childminding profession, but they and equally-valued male childminders offer a quality service. Some childminders are qualified childcarers who change their career path to be childminders, other people become childminders to be with their own children, or their children have grown up or they have young grandchildren. Some may not have their own children. No two people become childminders for the same reasons.

How patronising! There may well be some lower-educated women in the childminding profession, but they and equally-valued male childminders offer a quality service. Some childminders are qualified childcarers who change their career path to be childminders, other people become childminders to be with their own children, or their children have grown up or they have young grandchildren. Some may not have their own children. No two people become childminders for the same reasons.

Many childminders build on and exceed the minimum standards set by the Government. Childminding networks offer support with toy and equipment loan schemes, and individual career progression with enhanced standards. Colleges also offer basic skills support to any adult learner in any profession.

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