Nursery World - Why we are introducing childminder agencies

The agencies being introduced by the Children and Families Bill will support great childminders and encourage more to enter the profession, says Education Minister Elizabeth Truss

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the importance of a childminder’s job. They are responsible for the safety of someone infinitely precious, and provide some of their vital early years education. Good childminders give parents peace of mind and allow them to consider pursuing a career safe in the knowledge that their son or daughter is in good hands.

Quality childcare is something that any government should prioritise, and childminders are an essential component – many families rely on the flexibility they offer, others depend on them in places where nursery provision is limited, and some simply prefer home-based care. This is proving harder and harder to come by as the number of childminders has fallen dramatically in the last 20 years, putting a good childminder out of reach of many parents.

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