Last year local authorities in England sent out questionnaires to grassroots groups on the then-proposed national standards for daycare and childminding. As I am in the unusual position of being both a registered childminder and the owner and officer-in-charge of a day nursery, this gave me a unique chance to see the standards from a broader perspective than most carers.
At the moment I work as a childminder at weekends and out of hours. At the time of the consultation I pointed out to colleagues the anomaly that as a childminder I would be able to care for three children aged under five and three over-fives (albeit mainly after school and in the holidays) plus as many over-eights as I wanted to. However, next door in my day nursery I would have to have two members of staff present if there was only one child on the premises at the beginning or end of the day - as can be possible in a small nursery.
When I read the letter by Marilyn Mills ('Understaffed', 14 February) I thought that at last here is someone who has stated the facts about the national standards as they are. Like Marilyn, I have always wondered who minds the children when the childminder cooks the meals, goes to the loo or becomes ill. I know first-hand what happens when unforeseen circumstances mean the childminder cannot continue to provide the care - the children come to a day nursery instead.
Parents tell me they realise that while childminders provide a homely approach, small day nurseries provide similar opportunities, greater safety for the children and there is more chance of uninterrupted care in unforeseen circumstances. While I would have expected other day nurseries to support what Marilyn Mills said, I could not believe the derisory letters from other childminders in response.
As for whether or not childminders should have assistants, I do not know, but I think everyone - especially the users of childcare services - should be aware of the situation.
