Childminders are most likely to achieve quality practice under LA support structure

The key findings of the study, which set out to identify factors that have enabled childminders in rural local authorities to achieve an Ofsted outstanding, show that childminders are most likely to achieve quality practice when working in a local authority with a structured childminder network that incorporates a quality assurance scheme, with officers solely responsible for childminders and where the LA holds a full record of childminders' qualifications.

Local authorities with the highest number of outstanding childminders commonly employed an officer with sole responsibility for supporting childminders, had an established childminder network and operated on a ratio of one support worker to 74 childminders.

Childminders attributed their outstanding practice to training, supportive childminder colleagues, formal and informal childminding networks and knowledgeable local authorities and development officers.

The findings imply that the Government's plans to remove local authorities' early years quality improvement role would damage the quality of childminders' practice.

Lesley Evans, whose experience of the early years sector spans 30 years and includes working as an LA adviser and EYP assessor, carried out the research for her doctorate at the University of Sheffield.

She questioned 45 local authorities about the support they provide to childminders, spoke with 55 outstanding childminders living in rural local authorities and analysed Ofsted inspection reports.

Ms Evans said, 'Having worked in three local authorities I became aware of the different ways early years practitioners were supported by their local authority, particularly childminders. I've taught childminders studying for degrees living in different authorities and was told of the diverse support they received.

'There has been relatively little research conducted into childminding, and so as well as increasing my own understanding, I wanted to add to the limited body of knowledge.'

She added, 'The findings reported that a local authority with a structured support system that included six specific elements was the most beneficial for childminders.

'The Government's proposal is flawed. There is a blurring of the support and nurturing that a sound quality assurance scheme offers by implying that this constitutes inspection. There seems to be a misrepresentation of the role of Ofsted, with an inference that there will be an inclusive system of support for improvement.'

She said that it appeared from the proposals in 'More Great Childcare' that childminder agencies would take on a similar role to that currently provided by local authorities.

'There would be no need for agencies if the Government focused on ensuring that local authorities carried out their role of supporting early years providers to "secure the provision of information, advice and training to ... persons providing childcare in their area" as directed in the 2006 Childcare Act. Taking childminders out of the remit of local authorities is likely to create a two-tier system of childcare practitioner.'

However, the study also highlights the inequity of support of local authorities across the country, which it says has directly impacted upon the quality of home-based childcare.

Childminders reported that training offered by their local authority is often inappropriate for the level of qualification they hold.

Around 18 per cent of childminders who took part in the research held a degree on entry to childminding, 15 per cent had gained a childcare degree since taking up childminding and a further seven per cent were studying for a degree. In total, 73 per cent of childminders had undertaken early years qualifications since entering the profession.

Childminders also reported not having been visited by local authority officers and that officers had little experience of childminding or a lack of knowledge, understanding and expertise of the sector.

Ms Evans attributed the disparate support childminders received compared to other early years providers to, 'The level of knowledge, understanding and relevant qualifications of local authority personnel and the attitude adopted by the local authority towards the childminder workforce.'

• Lesley Evans can be contacted by email