Increased training opportunities, start-up grants and the introduction of childminding networks all add up to a time of great investment in childminding, yet latest figures suggest that the number of childminders at work is still dropping. Are childminders really on the decline, or are they simply gearing up to enter a new stage of professionalism?
Recent Government statistics show that last year alone the number of childminders fell by 3,300 from 75,600 to 72,300, resulting in 15,800 fewer childcare places.
Peter Moss, professor of early childhood provision at the Thomas Coram Research Unit at London's Institute of Education, suggests that the apparent decline could be due to better paid-jobs on offer.
He says, 'The decline in childminders is part of a bigger picture. Childcare workers tend to come from a certain kind of background - they are nearly all women who are lower-educated, and a broad reading is that the numbers of women in that group is falling. There are also other job opportunities around, such as call centres and supermarkets, which have an appeal over the bad pay of caring professions. Childminding is poorly paid and many childminders feel devalued, but they also get a lot out of working with children, so they are torn both ways. It is when this balance is disturbed because there are other jobs available that numbers can decline.' A report by the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Who Cares? Childminding in the 1990s, revealed that the average childminder's gross weekly income was 103. Child-minders found it difficult to raise fees because they feared jeopardising their relationship with parents, and parents unable to afford an increase might look for another provider who charged less. They felt their jobs held a low status, which also could be contributing to the decline in numbers.
'Often when childminding receives publicity, the profession is not shown in a good light,' says Ann Mooney, a research officer at the Thomas Coram Research Unit. 'Childminders want to see more positive publicity, and it is felt that their low status has contributed to the drop in numbers.
'But there is always going to be a reasonably high turnover, because childminders tend to come into childminding when they are having children themselves. Education stan-dards for women have risen and women are delaying having children until later, so these factors combined may mean that more women are in a better position to pay other childcarers and return to work than they were in the past.'
Still in demand
But National Childminding Association (NCMA) chief executive Gill Haynes doubts the accuracy of the Government figures for registered childminders. She believes there will be a more accurate picture when the Early Years Directorate starts operating next month. 'Our figures show no decrease in existing childminders and an increase in new childminders,' she says. 'As far as the NCMA is concerned, the decline has been halted by start-up grants, which we lobbied for, and by new initiatives and new opportunities.'
Darlington in Co Durham has recently seen an increase in the number of childminders, but demand from parents still exceeds the supply of places. Nicola Davies, early years and childcare officer at Darlington Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, says, 'The flexible nature of a childminder's service is what we see as a reason for this high demand. We are now working hard with existing childminders to ensure they are sustainable and we are running a course to introduce people to the profession and increase numbers.
'The Government is also encouraging partnerships to ensure there are childminders in disadvantaged areas, so we are looking into that, because there are areas in Darlington where there are currently no childminders.' Partnerships are also obliged by the Government's national childcare strategy to establish childminder networks. Annette Dawson, a member of the Alton and Aldershot Children Come First Childminding Network, believes the introduction of these networks is 'empowering' childminders.
'Before networks we were individual people working in individual settings. Now we still have that, plus the support and the incentive to work towards higher standards. We have the support that we'd have from a larger setting and we feel ahead of the game,' she says.
Networks may help encourage new people into childminding. Ann Mooney says, 'People working together and having support could enhance the image of childminding and attract more people. There may not be a change in childminders' financial situation, but they could attract more income if the network is eligible for a nursery education grant.' Four networks in Essex, West Yorkshire, South Gloucestershire and Derby- shire, which receive money from the nursery education grant, were inspected by Ofsted in March and received the highest possible rating endorsing the care and education given by childminders.
Trained and tested
A greater emphasis has been placed on childminder qualifications, with partnerships having money available for training and CACHE becoming the awarding body. Gill Haynes believes many childminders, even those who have been in the sector for a long time, are keen to take up training opportunities because they want their work recognised as being on a par with people working in other childcare sectors.
'We have evidence that training is something that not just young people are interested in,' she says. 'Our profile of people signing up for the new Certificate in Childminding Practice shows that 48 per cent are aged between 31 and 40, 17 per cent are between 40 and 50 and five per cent are between 50 and 60. We even have some new candidates who are over 65. So training is not seen as a block, and many childminders who have no qualifications welcome the opportunity to have job training and professional recognition.'
But the onset of Ofsted inspections for childminders to assess that professionalism is worrying some parts of the sector. Annette Dawson says, 'Some childminders are still apprehensive about Ofsted and are leaving, but I think many of those were considering changing professions anyway. I think come September the profession will not lose any more people than normal. Some people do see the name Ofsted and panic, but we have received lots of good-quality information through the partnerships.'
The NCMA is also trying to put out a positive message about Ofsted. 'If childminders are given inaccurate information - such as that Ofsted inspections will take all day, which they most certainly won't - then they may be apprehensive. But in those parts of the country where we know childminders have received accurate information, we know they are reassured,' says Gill Haynes.
Many registered childminders in England felt their professionalism was compromised by the Government's national standards for childminding, which said they could, with parents' consent, smoke and smack the children in their care.
'We didn't want smacking and smoking and I wrote to David Blunkett saying so,' says Annette Dawson. 'We do not want to be treated any differently from other settings and are disappointed by that.' Gill Haynes regards it as a lack of appreciation of childminder's professionalism but hopes Ofsted will recommend changes when the standards are reviewed. 'I don't think childminders feel they have lost the battle - it's just a temporary setback,' she says.
And Annette Dawson still has faith in the Government's initiatives and sees an exciting future ahead. 'I do feel the Government is more behind us now and is giving childminders finances and support,' she says. 'As of September I will receive funding for teaching the foundation stage, which gives parents more childcare options and speaks volumes for the importance the Government places on childminders. I think we're a cutting-edge profession in the 21st century and are very lucky to be in this position.'
Further reading
Who Cares? Childminding in the 1990s by Ann Mooney, Abigail Knight, Peter Moss and Charlie Owen (13.95, York Publishing, tel: 01904 430033)