CEY1724

Written evidence summary of the Childminder Rountable

Childminder Roundtable Summary

In April 2023, the Education Select Committee held a private roundtable with childminders from across the country to discuss their lived experiences and views of the early years sector. The key themes of the discussions in the roundtable are summarised in this document. 

Some childminders who were not able to attend the roundtable sent written submissions to the Committee. Many attendees also sent additional information after the event. These submissions have been integrated into the summary.

The Committee greatly appreciates all participants and contributors who took the time to share their views, helping to build the evidence base of this inquiry.

Workforce perceptions:

Whilst the childminders were overwhelmingly positive about their profession, they felt undervalued as part of the early years workforce.

I've been childminding for 13, 14 years […] and I absolutely love it and really, really enjoy what I do and I've got lovely parents, all appreciative.

I wouldn't change my job for the world even if we are under-valued and under-understood.

It is viewed as unskilled, lowly work which is rarely promoted as a good career choice.

Childminders just are not seen as professional equals. We're always the bolt-on, we're always in exclamation marks and we're always either left off of schemes or any form of information and communication doesn't come to us.

Comparisons were explicitly made with nursery workers, with attendees feeling they are “always seen as second class”, or labelled as “babysitters and nannies”. The childminders pointed out the great skill and level of training that it takes to be a childminder, as well as the educational benefits they provide.

The training is not widely known, clearly understood, or even recognised by parents.

It does not seem to be widely known that a childminder delivers the same early years education as other settings such as nurseries and pre-schools. This is a legal obligation

It really is soul destroying when people just refer to us as "babysitters" or even worse talk about us as "just childminders" as if we carry no value.

Many childminders in fact felt that the care they offered was superior to that of nursery workers, as they can offer “one-on-one care, individually tailored to each child, in a much more nurturing environment”.

It’s a common misconception that the care a childminder offers is substandard to the quality offered in nurseries […] Nurseries are very noisy, full of children, and often the staff changes on a regular basis, so the children may not always have the same key worker.

We're always seen as the poor relation to pre-school nurseries, early years nurseries and actually we have a lot to offer […] we can give one-to-one attention.

I came from a nursery setting where the high numbers and the lack of knowing your children on an intimate and personal level wasn't sitting comfortably with me.

Responses to the Spring Budget

The Government’s 2023 Spring Budget was announced shortly before the engagement session. This included a number of measures related to the childcare and early years sector.

The Government is due to extend the 30-free-hours entitlement so that all children over the age of nine months will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare.[1] Whilst there were positive reactions, with one attendee labelling it a “great idea to extend to more children”, there were apprehensions over the practicality of the extension. “Extreme” concerns arose that the childminding sector will not be able to meet the expansion in demand, especially in conjunction with the Government funding rates which have been criticised as insufficient. This is expanded on in greater detail later.

I really love the idea of giving 30 free hours to as many parents as possible.

The proposal that has been made is ill-thought out. Parents do not understand that whilst the care is free to them, in most cases, it is the provider who is heavily subsidising this care

The recent budget has crippled childminders like me and my daughter as they are basically saying we have no choice but to deliver what they say, when they say it and for the very unrealistic amount per hour they are willing to pay!

One childminder also pointed to mothers who wished to stay at home and care for their children, and the lack of support they receive, asking:

Should the government not be also looking at ways that mothers who want to stay home with their babies for longer are able to? Give them the financial support to stay home longer?

Under the Childminder grants scheme, new childminders who register with Ofsted are to be given a start-up grant of £600, rising to £1200 if they register with an agency.[2] Respondents were happy that a grant was being offered, although they expressed concerns that the money would not go far enough.

I think it’s great that you know the Start-up Grant is being offered, you know, £600 is certainly better than the nothing that most childminders have had in the last few years starting up.

If they joined through an agency and they get double the amount, that’s fine. But that double amount will actually disappear with agency charges within the first six months.

However, one childminder labelled it “a very small amount”, stating it “won’t even buy the pushchair and the car seats that childminders need”, another likening it to “throwing monopoly money at the wind”.

There were additional concerns that the grant focused on recruitment over retention, that “offering incentives to new childminders is an insult to already established childminders”. The prioritisation of agencies was also labelled as unfair and “totally out of order”, although agency costs were given as an explanation.

I like the idea of a financial incentive for new childminders, however, offering a higher rate for those who sign up to an agency is unfair.

I say the discrepancy between an Ofsted-registered childminders and the agency is ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous.

Ofsted or Childminder agencies

Childminders debated the general positives and negatives of registering with Ofsted against registering with an agency. A prominent reason for registering with Ofsted was a desire to be in control of their own business. An example was given of a local childminding agency being judged ineffective, which meant all childminders under that agency could no longer take funded children. Fees were also quoted as an issue with agencies, as well as a feeling that agencies “are not supporting in the way that they are supposed to be”. One childminder saw additional agency support as unnecessary and said that the support given to them through their local authority was sufficient.

If my business goes down because I've trashed it, then that's my loss, but I don't want to be handing over that kind of responsibility to somebody else.

Childminding agencies are another concern as they will also be taking money from the people trying to provide a good service.

Why would you risk being part of an agency and risk having a bad inspection? It seems crazy.

I would refuse point blank to sign with an agency. There are too many drawbacks and no positives.

Positivity was expressed towards Ofsted, as childminders felt pride in their Ofsted ratings. One attendee stated they liked being held to the “high standards” that Ofsted demands, as these standards reflect hard work and a high-quality childcare service.

I like Ofsted and I think that I might well say that because I've been judged ‘Outstanding’ on both occasions, but that that's come on the back of a lot of hard work and a lot of training for my own apprentices and things like that. I value my rating.

I've always had good experiences throughout my inspection process. I've had two very approachable, very lovely inspectors.

I quite like being held to the high standards that I am.

However, the largest source of criticism for Ofsted during the roundtable was the inspection procedure. Many spoke to the subjectivity of the inspection process and inconsistency between different inspectors, and how this causes “high levels of anxiety and stress”. Childminders made it clear the mental strain that Ofsted inspections can cause them – “people losing sleep” and living “in fear”. A lack of personal experience from inspectors, difficulty in contacting Ofsted, and the irregularity of inspections were also quoted as issues. This culminates in a fear of “your entire business and livelihood” being “wiped out” by a poor Ofsted rating.

The current system is not fit for purpose as it is too subjective and too open to interpretation to be a reliable reflection of the quality of a setting.

Some of the anecdotes that you hear about the Ofsted inspections of childminders are just nuts and so irrational, so erratic, there's no consistency and they come and see you so rarely.

The sort of horror stories that you hear about an Ofsted inspection of a childminder were upsetting some of the teams so much.

I’ve heard many stories of people being left in tears, not sleeping due to worrying about the upcoming inspection.

For these reasons, many felt positively towards registration with an agency. Alongside the absence of Ofsted inspection, effective advice, support and guidance in matters of training, parental conflict, and registration were cited as positives. Agency fees were therefore seen as worthwhile.

They'll come and see us every year with a view to kind of supporting and advising us, and if they find something wrong, we can sort it out with them

Of course they take their charges and that's why I'm happy to pay for those charges because I'm getting a lot out of it.

Disadvantaged children

The engagement session had a diverse range of attendees, including those who ran settings in deprived areas. Childminders from these areas pointed to the “very poor” funding rates that cause difficulty in the profession. Early Years Pupil Premium, extra funding paid to an early years’ provider, is expected to cover those who need additional financial assistance.[3] However, one attendee highlighted that not every poor child qualifies for Pupil Premium. Many disadvantaged children come from working families, where additional living costs and expenses prevent them from lead them to financial hardship.

For a three- or four-year-old child, we get £4.27 an hour. I can't get my dog walked for less than a tenner.

We're in deprived area working with some of the kids who need us most, and yet we're funded the worst.

Poor children do come from working families who just have too many expenses, you know, such as the energy costs, mortgages and stuff. It's not always as clear-cut as saying a 2-year-old is deprived or not deprived.

Childminders also pointed to the lack of available support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The necessary individualised care is often not available, and children with SEND are frequently not getting an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Due to a lack of provision, over subscription and long waiting lists, settings were described as having a “let’s see how it turns out” approach to specialised needs, despite their desire to help. By the time the setting has “banged the drum” and “made such a fuss” to get an EHCP or additional help, the child will likely join school “with nothing”, having had no special educational needs provision.

One childminder from Devon told us about a child from a previous setting who arrived with an EHCP, but could not access any help because “it just doesn’t happen” in Devon. A lack of recruitment of those who are qualified to deal with specialised needs, as well as a lack of general SEND training amongst childminders, were cited as issues.

He came with the right to have one-to-one care and our local authority could not, would not deliver it for him and his poor mum ended up taking a year out of work.

There isn't enough training around how to handle children who have neurodiversity or special educational needs.

In Hertfordshire childminders really, really struggle when they've got children with special educational needs: a) getting a diagnosis, b) getting extra help. You know, we can’t get somebody in to work with us obviously if that's what the child needs.

Childminders recommended in house SENCOs (special educational needs co-ordinators) as well as extra funding to assist children with additional needs.

Quality and development

Childminders saw the value in qualifications, and the importance of professional development, when it comes to giving care. One attendee stated that “all childminders should be working towards getting at least a level 3 (childcare qualification)”. Comparisons were again made with nursery workers, with one childminder stating there is often a higher proliferation of level 3 qualifications in childminding settings than in nurseries. One respondent felt that although the current introductory childminding courses are “sufficient”, there are additional pathways to progress that childminders should be made aware of and pursue.

Obviously there are many childminders who've got higher qualifications and it really does benefit them and it benefits the children.

It's got to be a minimum of Level 3, but there needs to be some funding obviously because they're not going to be able to do it off their own back

I'm sure there's many people out there as childminders who have got at least a Level 3 and a degree, which they're not going to find in a nursery.

Cost and time were given as barriers to childminders who wished to access higher qualifications and training. Childminders are encouraged to undertake training, but it has to be done in their time and in person, as out-of-hours or online training can often be inaccessible. Childminders feel that taking time out of the working day will mean they lose pay and “let parents down”. Parents themselves often support the development of childminders by accommodating for their training, however this is not possible for all families. Respondents therefore called for easier online access as well as “reasonably priced” training courses, to potentially ameliorate the lost earnings.

Unfortunately though, the Level 3 qualification costs money and that is why so many childminders do not go on to do their full Level 3.

I think all courses should be easily accessible online, as it’s not doable for the majority to take time off work and lose out financially. Training can only be done outside working hours for most people, so must be flexible and also affordable.

Nonetheless, the importance of character, human nature, and a “huge heart” was expressed when discussing childminding efficacy, rather than purely qualifications.

To be a childminder you need a huge heart and a lot of patience. Those are the main qualities.

You can have a degree, but yet be incapable of caring for a child. A huge heart, endless patience and a calm caring nature is something which cannot be taught, but something which every single person working with children should have. 

Funding and costs

Overall, funding rates were criticised, with childminders pointing out that “the funding does not really cover the costs and overheads of providing childcare”. Multiple respondents emphasised the difference between their hourly rates and the funding they receive from their local authority, which is often lower by more than £1 an hour. This resulted in the childminders absorbing the costs and losing money. In many cases, childminders will not take funded children at all, as their setting will lose too much money.

I cannot look after children for £4.30 or whatever it is an hour and I don't see why you expect us to.

So instead of now having a child who comes to me three days a week and pays £45 a day – which is the absolute maximum that we can push it to in this area, because our parents just can't afford it – I now make for that child around £21 a day. So I lose literally more than half of the income.

I currently now have one child who is with me three days a week, so he’s for 30 hours funded childcare. I lose […] £133 a week by having him for three days a week

So, when we take on a funded child it's nearly £1 an hour less. So if you're a single childminder working on their own and they only got two children in, they're working for a lot less than minimum wage, so it doesn't make any sense.

I do not take any funded children.

Despite the funding deficits, childminders and other providers of the free hours are not permitted to charge ‘top-up’ fees. Some childminders we heard from do try find other ways to supplement their income, such as charging for consumables. Many commented that this is necessary, due to the funding rate deficit, but that they dislike having to break the rules to do so.

You have got to let us charge top-up fees. You have got to, we cannot do it any other way […] all these creative ways, we charge for this and we charge for that.

I don't want to be feeling like I'm sailing close to the wind or breaking rules. I'm trying to give children a great time here and look after them properly. I want to feed them well. I want to give them lovely experiences. I don't want to discriminate against the child or the parents that can't afford the extras.

Childminders also criticised the complexity of the funding system, both for themselves and for parents, and across all elements of support: the free hours entitlements, Tax-Free Childcare, and the Universal Credit childcare element. One attendee does not offer funded hours at all, as the “system is far too complex”. Other childminders cited late payments and late reimbursements from the council as reasons for the system’s complexity. Childminders gave their experiences of the “minefield” of childcare help. Childminders also commented that parental awareness of the support they can access is low.

With the childcare choices website, it does seem to be a bit of a minefield.

When it comes to the Universal Credit and other benefits that other people can get, I think people just don't know, they really don't know, and we no longer have the children's centres, obviously, that we used to have that people used to go to and got all the information from […] there's nobody there telling them anything

Not enough parents know about Tax-Free-Childcare, especially not the self-employed. Many parents also find it very difficult to set up the payments.

I think tax-free childcare is over-complicated and I've spoken to one parent today who has hassle with it every single month. The payments are always late and I'm not sure it's always her fault.

One respondent recommended a “fixed annual sum” of money, that parents could spend with the registered childcare of their choice. Media campaigns were suggested to raise awareness about tax-free childcare.

Additionally, childminders told us that many local authorities pay funding termly, meaning they only receive three payments a year, which is “not sustainable”. Childminders called for weekly or monthly payments in order to ease budgeting of household bills.

A lot of local authorities are still only paying that funding termly, so we only get three payments a year […] It needs to be monthly payments.

The funding is paid in two lump sums for each term which can make budgeting household bills difficult. If the funding could be paid monthly, this would be a big improvement.

Childminders were clear that there has to be a change in the language surrounding the entitlements, away from the conception of “free childcare” and towards a more accurate depiction like that of “funded”.

The word ‘free’ needs to be rethought, removed, taken away, rediscovered.

It's not free. It is funded and that word needs to change.

Multiple childminders also brought up the issue that they cannot accept funded children who are also relatives. This leads to children leaving settings where they are otherwise comfortable, a “very upsetting” process, that was labelled “ridiculous”.

When [my great-nephew] hit three, the term after his third birthday, he had to leave me because his mum could not claim the funding because he was with a relative

I've got my grandson and even though he's a three-year old, I can't claim funding for him because he's my grandson.

Costs

Many of the issues listed above intersected with the general rise of living costs in the UK. Childminders pointed to how energy, food and renting costs were particularly high when caring for young children and babies. This compounds with the general costs of childminding, one respondent listing: “Ofsted registration, ICO, insurances, heating, electricity, water etc, First Aid, Safeguarding, SEN awareness”. These are all paid by childminders themselves, and are not covered by the free-hours entitlements.

The increased cost of living at the moment – food, energy, etc., has had a massive impact on our profits too.

Energy is huge for us because we have to keep children warm. So over winter, our energy bill has more than doubled from £200-and-something to £435 and that's only heating the house to 18 degrees, which is the bare minimum that I can justifiably do for a baby of, say, five or six months.

My gas and electricity alone, because the [Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework] states that I have to keep my house between 18 to 21 degrees full stop, end of story, my heating bill alone this winter was over £3,500.[4]

The funding […] does not pay for their craft. It does not pay for the consumables. It does not pay for the snack, doesn't pay my insurance, doesn't pay my fuel.

Ratios

Childminders spoke to the general complexity of the ratio system in childcare settings, especially since the increase of flexible working due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One attendee said the only Ofsted guidance they received was to use their initiative.

It's really difficult to work out, if we've got children who are here for maybe 5 hours from first thing in the morning and then go home after lunch, but then we've got other children coming in at lunchtime until the evening and all sorts of different things in between, working out ratios [is] another nightmare. It makes it really complicated.

Childminders also discussed Government plans to relax ratios in childcare settings. Whilst one respondent stated that increased ratios “could help”, there was a general feeling that it could negatively impact the quality of care.

Especially for childminders because our ratios are different to nurseries – we can't have one of us to 8 kids over three.

We are expected to have time and energy to deal with and support problems and work with families; this just will not be possible with increased ratios.

Having cared for 4 pre-school children at the same time, for a few weeks, I do not feel that I can give high standard of care to each one and a wide range of quality experiences, including outings etc.

Conclusion

Hearing from childminders from across the country provided invaluable insight for our inquiry. These dedicated professionals who directly interact with children on a daily basis possess a wealth of knowledge and practical experience that greatly informed the Committee’s understanding of various aspects related to child development, education, and care. Their first-hand experiences provided unique insights into the challenges and successes encountered in their work, enabling this Committee to tailor our inquiry to address real-world concerns and enhance our understanding of best practices.

June 2023