Take a look at the details and you can immediately see a whole range of concerns and contradictions. Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years, spells out some of these in her article on page 15; while Pre-School Learning Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch takes a similar stance in his Viewpoint piece online (www.nurseryworld.co.uk/comment).
Cost and quality, as ever, are at issue. The plan to bring in agencies is intended to help increase the supply of childcare and bring the cost down. Yet agencies have to be paid for - either by charging a fee to childminders or by asking parents to pay, or both. As Ms Bayram points out, one organisation which looks set to become a pilot agency in September has start-up packages for new childminders ranging from £199 to £599..
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