Margaret Hodge, the employment and equal opportunities minister, insists that the issue is one of a relationship between a childminder and a child's parents. This seems totally illogical. If this is the case and she believes in true parental choice, then why can't parents give permission for playgroup and pre-school workers, nursery staff and teachers to smack children and to smoke in front of them? This sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
The relationship between a registered childminder and a parent is a professional working relationship - the same as with any other practitioner.
So why are childminders being singled out? We are fed up with being treated as the underdog on this issue.
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