The petition, launched by Dorset childminder Debbie Broadhurst, urges the Government to ‘undertake full and current research’ into all aspects of registered childminding and to consult with experts and practicing registered childminders, before deciding on the future regulation and inspection requirements of childminders.
Ministers are currently considering making changes to the way that registered childminders in England are regulated and inspected.
In March, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw told MPs at the education select committee that regulating and inspecting childminders was too costly and said that he was in discussions with education secretary Michael Gove about how to make the inspection system more efficient, more effective, and provide greater value for money.
More than 4,000 people have signed the online petition so far, including childminders and parents.
The aim is to achieve 100,000 signatures, the number of signatures required for an issue to be eligible for debate in the House of Commons.
Ann Ross, a childminder from Dartford in Kent who is backing the petition, said, ‘I am horrified by the Government’s decision to change the way childminders are regulated and inspected.
‘We (childminders) are now on par with nurseries and have worked hard to break down the barriers.
She added, ‘It seems like such a backward step, which would devalue the profession, and in terms of safeguarding makes no sense.’
The National Childminding Association, which has launched a campaign to keep childminders regulated and inspected as individuals under the EYFS, has also published interim results from its survey of childminders.
Of the 2,700 childminders that responded, 70 per cent said they believe that the proposals to reform regulation and inspection of childminders would have a detrimental affect on the quality and safety of care offered to children.
The survey also revealed that 85 per cent of childminders believe that being regulated and inspected by Ofsted helps them to reassure parents that they are professionals and delivering a good quality service.
Catherine Farrell, joint chief executive of NCMA, said, ‘The current Ofsted system is not costly or burdensome to childminders so there will be no cost-savings to pass on to parents. The new proposed model is likely to save Ofsted money but cost government more. Furthermore, regulation has not singlehandedly led to a drop in childminder numbers and recruiting more childminders will not necessarily reduce costs for parents.
‘It’s particularly galling to read politicians suggesting numbers have almost halved when they are comparing out of date pre-Ofsted data with current data. NCMA wants Government to widen its focus from just one aspect of childcare regulation to work with the sector to explore all the ways in which, in these times of austerity, children and families can still benefit from affordable but high quality care and early learning.’
