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DfE renews drive to set up childminder agencies

4Children is supporting nurseries, schools and local authorities to open childminder agencies in a new push by the Department for Education to expand the scheme across England.

The children's charity is hosting information events across the country this week in Birmingham, Taunton, Manchester, London and Leeds, attended by around 100 people who have expressed an interest in setting up agencies.

Organisations that are considering setting up childminder agencies include private nurseries, schools and local authorities.

Around 40 people are expected to attend events in London and Leeds aimed specifically at recruiting local authorities to take part in the initiative.

There are currently eight organisations registered with Ofsted as childminder agencies, including training companies, schools and groups of childminders.

So far just one is run by a local authority. Richmond and Kingston registered Leap Ahead Achieving for Children in May last year, which now has 12 childminders on its books.

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