The number of registered childminders in England has increased in each of the past three quarters to reach a total of 56,796, but this is still much lower than the December 2008 figure of nearly 62,000. However, at a time when the early years sector is under intense pressure, it is interesting that the childminding profession is attracting more newcomers than it is losing.
The number of childminding places also rose, by nearly 1 per cent, according to Ofsted. It recorded that between March and June there were 278,278 childminding places, which represents just over one-fifth (21 per cent) of the 1,304,869 places on the early years register.
There is no one clear reason for the changes, but National Childminding Association (NCMA) chief executive Catherine Farrell says there was a similar trend in the last recession.
Speaking before the publication of the latest Ofsted statistics, she said, 'Our NCMA membership survey shows that over the past two quarters, numbers have increased, and the recent growth has arrested the previous decline. It is not just the number of childminders that is increasing, but the number of places offered too - so only 5 per cent care for just one child and only 25 per cent care for three children or fewer.
'There was a similar trend in the previous recession when the number of childminders also increased. At the moment it is very difficult to get a sense of why the numbers are rising. We are working hard to support existing childminders and potential childminders to encourage them to remain in, or to join, the profession.'
Family finances obviously play a significant part in parents' choice of childcare, and in the current climate the average hourly rate per child charged by childminders, £3.90, could well be the decisive factor.
At the start of the credit crunch it was clear that some parents had opted out of paid formal childcare, resorting to friends and family instead. Possibly what is happening now is that families facing rising household bills and, at best, static salaries are choosing home-based childcare rather than more expensive nurseries.
Whatever the reasons for the growth, childminders are confident about the future. 'Our membership survey shows that the vast majority, more than 90 per cent of members, plan to still be in childminding over the next 12 months,' says Ms Farrell. 'I think that is a strong indication from a dedicated group of professionals, who are very committed to delivering a quality service, that they see themselves with a career in childminding.'
A POSITIVE STORY
The advent of the Early Years Foundation Stage and common Ofsted inspection regime gave potential clients the ability to compare settings across the sector.
'The EYFS is a positive story,' says Ms Farrell. 'There is an increasing number of childminders achieving outstanding or good Ofsted grades - up now to 74 per cent, which is a real demonstration of the growing professionalism. The EYFS puts a stop to the misconception that childminding is just "babysitting". NCMA works to raise the quality of the standards of care and learning provided by its members and to build recognition for their professionalism.'
There was an exodus from the profession around the launch of the EYFS, with numbers falling by about 5,000 in the year to 31 March 2008 to just over 64,500, with a loss of 19,000 childminding places. There had already been a rapid reduction in numbers from the high in June 2004 of 72,7000 childminders.
'The decline in numbers has been attributed in the media to the introduction of the EYFS,' says Ms Farrell. 'I think it was a much more complex picture and we would challenge whether that was the primary cause.' She suggests that factors such as the new Ofsted registration also had an influence.
Whatever the cause, there has been a shake-out in the profession and the EYFS has established a level playing field for comparisons of early years providers, which is why the NCMA is opposed to the proposal to split Ofsted's functions and inspect childminders only against care regulations.
INSPECTION
While some observers feel the idea will be dropped because it is too costly, NCMA has mounted its opposition on the ground of quality.
In its submission to the House of Commons Education Committee's report on the proposal, NCMA argued, 'Ofsted inspections also provide a mechanism to support childminders with their continuous improvement (particularly if no other quality improvement support is available in that childminder's area). They believe being inspected has helped in repositioning childminding as a profession, rather than being seen as just "babysitting". Ofsted inspections give providers the opportunity to identify areas for improvement in their practice and demonstrate their commitment to continuous professional development.'
The organisation also voiced concerns about stretching the time between inspections as 'regular Ofsted inspections provide an important opportunity for childminders to discuss and receive feedback on their practice which may otherwise be unavailable by any other formal quality improvement support'.
The challenge for individual practitioners to overcome the isolation of operating alone and gaining the insight and inspiration to develop practice was highlighted in Ofsted's 2009/2010 annual report.
It found that nearly three-quarters of childcare providers on non- domestic premises were rated as good or outstanding, compared with two-thirds of childminders.
'It may be the case that childcare providers on non-domestic premises benefit from working routinely with other practitioners and are therefore able to exchange ideas, share their practice and identify common areas for improvement, whereas childminders, who often work alone, may not have such opportunities,' notes the report.
It found on the one hand that childminders who are members of a quality assurance scheme perform particularly strongly - only a third of scheme members are childminders, but 92 per cent of them are judged good or outstanding. On the other hand, it also noted that childminders are often weaker in the deprived areas of the country - the very communities where quality provision is needed. In the most deprived areas, just over half the childminders were rated good or outstanding, compared with nearly two-thirds of providers on non-domestic premises.
HIGHEST STANDARDS
Yet the childminders who work to the highest standards have a huge influence for the good in those communities. The report says, 'Outstanding childminders in deprived areas forge strong relationships with the families of children who attend their settings and these extend far beyond the time the children are actually present. In turn, their parents are often more able to respond to someone they trust as a friend rather than to someone in authority. These outstanding childminders provide good role models for families and show that every child can succeed.'
CASE STUDY: SHARON LAKIN, BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham childminder Sharon Lakin aims to give the disadvantaged two-year-olds who come to her under the free nursery entitlement scheme the best start in life.
They are referred to her either through the local childminding network of which she is a member or on the advice of the family support worker at her local children's centre.
'You are told on a need-to-know basis if the child has any issues,' says Ms Lakin, who has cared for three funded two-year-olds this year. 'You are told from the point of view of working with that child. For example, it may be that the child needs more socialising or stimulation.'
One little girl arrived with little speech, was averse to sharing and couldn't interact with other children. Though she 'still has her problems', she is now 'much friendlier' and her speech has 'come on tremendously', thanks to lots of stories and games.
'It was a lot of hard work for me and her parents,' says Mrs Lakin. 'It is important to have a good relationship with the parents. After all, they know their child better than you and we are all here for the same reason - that child. I discussed things with the mother. There was a great deal going on in the child's life and her mum had a new baby. You support the parents too. I don't have all the answers but I try to find out who does and tell them what help is available.'
Another girl, one of five daughters, was very attached to her mother, so initially would keep her coat on and would not go out to play. Now she waits by her door to be collected in the morning and enjoys playing with other children at play groups.
'She is a totally different child,' says Mrs Lakin. 'I am so pleased and proud of her. She is ready to go on now. Her self-esteem, her confidence, the way she speaks and interacts with others are fantastic.
'I love being able to offer them opportunities to develop and learn through play and activities. You feel you are getting them ready to go on with their education. When a child starts with me, I do a baseline assessment and see where they are at and what they need to develop, what they like doing, what interests them and what we need to work on.
'In such a small group I can really work one-to-one with the children. I get to know them really well because I spend so much time with them. Sometimes I think in a bigger setting you could lose sight of the things a child is weaker on - the things they need to develop.
'I make sure that I work on those areas that need to develop on a monthly basis. It might be through a planned activity or by using a child's interests, or something will come up in our spontaneous play.
'I have a little boy who loves numbers and colours and he needs to develop his self-care so he can get himself ready for nursery. I am planning an activity to get him undressing and dressing one of the teddies and we can count the buttons or count how many teddies he can dress.
'I shed a tear when they move on, but I can see the big change in the children and their families.'
SHARING BEST PRACTICE
So, how can the best childminding practice be shared and standards raised, particularly at a time when local authority support for the early years is suffering from severe financial cuts?
Ms Farrell says the NCMA is developing a nationwide, peer-owned childminding network with government funding that will offer support through face-to-face sessions and online. The charity is also developing a CPD pathway - half its members have gained a Level 3 qualification, so there is huge scope for progress.
Another way to support childminders develop their practice and give the best of them the platform they need to act as community-based role models is to ensure they are welcomed into their local children's centres.
The Government has redrawn the remit of children's centres to focus on the most disadvantaged children and their families, and surely it would make sense to ensure that high on any service agenda are the very people who live and work within these communities?
CASE STUDY: ANN ROSS, DARTFORD, KENT
Childminder Ann Ross, a special needs mentor and EYFS mentor to other childminders, welcomed an autistic child to her setting after the family were refused a place elsewhere because the other parents objected.
'The mother rang me in tears. The other parents were not prepared to have their children mixing with a child with autism. It is unbelievable,' says Mrs Ross, who is rated by Ofsted as outstanding and specialises in care for children with SEN.
'I told her that would not happen here. I would educate the parents if need be and if they weren't happy they could go somewhere else. I told my parents we have a new girl starting and she is autistic. I answered their questions and it was fine.'
Mrs Ross previously worked as a teaching assistant in special schools, gaining a great deal of experience, confidence and training in working with SEN children and their families.
'Childminders are able to support the whole family holistically. I have supported families through the statementing process. People do not realise the strain on parents when there are so many different agencies involved. They are bombarded with forms and paperwork and different people to see and appointments to keep. Meanwhile all the time they are trying to get a full diagnosis. I try to support them through that process. I have a lot of resources I have collected and lists of useful websites I can share with parents. I read a lot of journals and do research online. If I find something interesting or helpful I pass it on to them.
'I loan equipment and books to parents and other practitioners. I make up my own story sacks and treasure baskets, which I loan out - even to the local school.
'I feel childminding is a much harder job than working in a nursery as you are everybody - cook, cleaner, administrator, educator and carer. The EYFS has raised the profile of childminders and made childcare more professional. Parents now know much more about the importance of firm attachment.
'The amount of paperwork shot up when the EYFS came in. If you have three children full-time on the EYFS, which I am registered for, that is a lot of paperwork. At one stage I had ten children part-time, some coming only one day a week, but I still have to do as much paperwork for each of the part-time children as I would have to do for each of the full-time children.'
Training
'I think there is a lack of special needs training for childminders. I have found most of the SEN training for myself,' says Mrs Ross. 'A lot of the time, all people need is some sort of reassurance - they need someone to tell them they are doing a good job. Peer support is very important as childminders work in isolation.
'Parents of children with special needs are looking to find a setting where they can really trust the person. You have to meet the child's needs and support the family.
'There is a little girl, on the autistic spectrum, aged eight, who is pre- verbal and comes to me four afternoons a week after school. She was my second child and has been coming so long that we have a very strong attachment, so she copes well with the changes in the house with different children coming.
'I was out of action for three months and her mother changed her hours of work because she said there was no one else she could trust.
'When she first came she was a silent child. She makes sounds now that we understand as words, but maybe somebody who didn't know her would not. I had a little boy in the mornings when she started who was very loud and she was really quiet.
'I can remember her first day - we spent three hours lying under the rug together because that was what she wanted to do. Sometimes you think back and realise how far you have come. These small steps for a child with SEN are really huge strides.
'I have taught myself some sign language and I would really like to go on a proper course, but it could cost £1,000. There is a big focus on early intervention but it can sometimes be hard to access support for the older children.
'I have a boy with a mild form of a very rare condition - Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. He is nearly eight but looks about four years old. He is small and looks very frail but is strong, has no sense of danger and loves hanging upside down. He has very prominent facial features with long eyelashes and almond eyes and very strong teeth.
'He doesn't play with his hands but places things in his mouth for the texture. He can bite the sink and not damage his teeth. He is very affectionate and all the other children accept him.
'His parents could not find anyone to look after him. As soon as he turned six the nursery he had attended would not change their registration. His mother came to me via the childminding network.'
Working with parents
'Some childminders tell me they cannot really work in partnership with their parents as they can't get the parents involved. At the outset I tell the parents what to expect of me and what I expect of them. I always do a home visit before they start. It is so helpful as you get to know much more about the child and the family,' says Mrs Ross.
'I had a student here earlier in the year on placement from the New Leaders in Early Years graduate programme at Canterbury Christchurch University. He was amazed at how much I knew about the children and their lives. I know about their families and extended families and can bring that information in to the activities.
'I was really pleased that they sent someone out to a childminder. This is a totally different setting to a nursery. Probably no-one going on that course is going to come into childminding, but I hope that if they end up working in a children's centre they will try to be more inclusive of childminders.'
CASE STUDY: CARRIE BENNETT, BASINGSTOKE
Outstanding childminder Carrie Bennett, from Basingstoke, is passionate about promoting high-quality practice at a time when the sector is facing many changes.
She is frustrated that childminders are being left out of Sure Start children's centres as a result of funding cuts. 'Now the focus is on the most vulnerable, they say they have not got capacity for childminders. Staffing has been cut and the volunteers they were hoping for haven't materialised. This is a wasted opportunity if you want to raise the profile of childminding. Childminders using children's centres can cascade information to parents. People won't see the opportunity to move into childminding as a career option. How can childminding be taken seriously if people aren't seeing it being modelled professionally?
'The local authority support now is a bit patchy. I am a member of the childminding network, but to stay in the network now you have to offer the free entitlement. Before you had the choice.'
This is just the latest change she has had to adapt to, including the EYFS and parents moving to shift or part-time working. One child booked for one day sometimes comes for four; another booked for two mornings did a full day to 7.30pm. 'The premise from the Government is that childminders will mop up what nurseries can't do - but what about the family that wants you to care for a child for the 90 minutes between the mother going on shift and father returning? You can't charge them for a whole morning, and you can't sell the rest of the session.'
CASE STUDY: CAROLINE FEAR, SOMERSET
Flexibility is a key element of the work of Somerset childminder Caroline Fear. She even managed to persuade Ofsted to allow her to increase her registered numbers one day a week when a family asked her to care for their third child.
The permission is no longer needed as her mother and brother are now registered as her assistants and her husband is also a registered childminder.
Mrs Fear is a member of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Children Come First childminding network and is able to offer the flexible childcare needed by police families. 'The dad gives me his shift hours a month beforehand and I work around them. Sometimes things change - he has to go to court or training - but he usually gives a couple of days' notice. His wife works more regular hours, but there are times when he is due to pick them up and he'll phone and say he can't get there in time. You just say the children are fine - you must be flexible.
'I lose out sometimes because the children have two full-time places but, for example, this week they have only been here two-and-a-half days, but I am lucky as a couple of parents can be quite flexible. They don't necessarily need the same days every week and can change days, which can be quite good. It means I can work things out each week so I lose the least space.'
Although Mrs Fear works from home, the children no longer use her house and garden. 'We built a log cabin for the children, set in its own paddock, and it has a kitchen and bathroom and sleeping area if the children want a nap.'
CASE STUDY: MARION FOX, MANCHESTER
Marion Fox recently extended her registration to take nine children at her home, but she is adamant she does not want to open a nursery.
Rated outstanding by Ofsted, she works alongside her husband Stan, also a registered childminder, and their two older sons who are registered as assistants.
'I don't want to have a nursery because I want to keep it small and personal - like an extension of the family. I would not want to lose that personal approach. The parents come in for a brew on their way home.
'Some of the children I have had here are from single-parent families and it is good that I have Stan and my four boys to give them male role models. One girl started at eight weeks and only stopped coming when she reached Year 9. Her mum worked late so she would come here after school as her little sister was here. They still pop in to see me. It is a very personal relationship. You have the time to really get to know the families and support them.'
In one instance, the parents of a three-year-old girl didn't want her to go outside, despite Marion having wellies and waterproofs at the ready.
'If she was digging outside they wanted her to wear rubber gloves,' says Mrs Fox. 'She loved being outside. The children help with the vegetable garden and we have chickens - they are enclosed but they love to see them. I would get telephone calls saying, "Is she outside?" They were educated people but I had to sit them down and get them talking and reading about the benefits of outdoor play and the learning that goes on outdoors.'
Free entitlement
'I started childminding 19 years ago when I could not find affordable, flexible childcare when I was returning to nursing after the birth of my son.
'Things have changed so much and for the better in many ways. I don't think for me that I am doing that much differently, but I am writing it all down now. There is an awful lot more paperwork.
'I was the first childminder to offer the free entitlement in Salford. The early years team were very helpful when I started, but that support has all gone. Sure Start locally is being replaced; there is no network co-ordinator for the childminders and the early years advisory teachers have gone. The teacher who was based at our local children's centre was my mentor on my foundation degree, and I knew her from the nursery school, and she has gone.
'All the training has been cut. All that is being offered is the basics - first aid, food hygiene and safeguarding, and much of it is being offered online rather than face-to-face.
'I am quite busy, but a lot of childminders in the area have no children at all. I think demand is falling. I would not like to be coming into childminding now as a lot of the support has gone.'
