The figures show that there were 37,600 childminders, as of 31 December 2019, 10,300 fewer childminders than there were as of 31 August 2015, or equivalent to a drop of 22 per cent.
The latest statistics have been published as childminders face an unprecedented threat to their survival, and with thousands calling for support during the coronavirus crisis.
As we reported yesterday, more than 9,000 childminders having written to their local MP since the weekend on this issue.
Nursery World understands that the Government is due to make an announcement on support for self-employed workers imminently.
Meanwhile, the Ofsted figures show that the number of places offered by childminders has only decreased by 11 per cent since August 2015, because individual childminders are each offering a higher number of places on average - even though there are fewer childminders and fewer places offered by childminders overall.
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