Nursery World - Ten per cent drop in childminders

The number of childminders has dropped more than 10 per cent in the past two years, the latest figures from Ofsted show.

Quarterly statistics on the number of registered childcare providers andplaces up to the end of August show a drop in the number of childmindersfor the seventh time in a row.

There are now 63,600 childminders in England, down from 67,443 inSeptember last year and 71,200 in September 2006.

The latest quarterly figures are not directly comparable because theyonly show the previous two months. Figures for September have not beenincluded because of the move to the EYFS from 1 September, suggestingthe true number could be lower.

Oftsed said the latest report on childcare providers and places was thefinal one from the previous early years framework and that another wasbeing developed to show the data to be published in the New Year. Aspokesperson said, 'Under the EYFS provider types have changeddrastically. Therefore, we cannot compare provider and place numbersacross frameworks.'

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