Childminder Agencies etc.

Argh!! How hard has it been over the years to get people to accept that childminders are striving for , and achieving, the same outcomes for children as nurseries ( even the posh ones) and that were not just babysitters ?? Ive had comments like " but your only a childminder arnt you" and a nursery worker astonished when I sent a child in with summative assessments stating " oh do you have to do this as well? at least you wont have to now they come here..." erm... yep! Surely by de regulating us we will be seen as just that, again.. For a lot of parents an ofsted grading is paramount ( debatable, but...) Clearly those of us who care enough will continue to care enough and ensure our businesses are run as we see fit. But of course there are going to be some who see it as a way to make extra income without the childrens welfare coming first. Dangerous and detrimental.i do on occasion had 4 under 5s in my setting. This will continue for short periods for crossovers etc but to have this full time? No thank you! Getting out and about with 3 x 2 yr olds on public transport can be hard enough, but 4 ?? I would cope... I'm sure we all would, but I Don't want to just cope. I want to offer the children in my care the best I can offer. The support network already in place is, I feel, just fine. So don't fix what isn't broke.
As a parent I would certainly choose a setting for my child with safe ratios and I wouldn't trust an agency to make that decision for me either. I'd want to do the searching and looking around and make my own mind up. And I can do that quite nicely through the wonderful and free FIS . What will happen to the majority of us who won't join an agency? Will we lose all support? Training ?

Childminder agencies should not detract or destroy any existing childminding in operation at the moment. Independents MUST be allowed to continue accepting vouchers and tax credits. Agencies should have existing childminders in their panel to advise what it's really like out there for minders, and to ensure that children continue to be put first! If agencies employ people then childcare costs can only increase as holiday and sick pay, plus resources will need to be funded by them. Agencies in my view would be better in dub contracting minders, and encouraging/ training minders to be independent other than for further training and to pass potential clients on. Would love to know where all these extra children are supposedly going to come from?! I think that by lessening the restrictions on new minders signing up you will be encouraging lots of unsuitable candidates to sign up and waste agencies time in training etc, the current system is good, still doesn't put enough people off in my mind, as not enough work to go round!

I want to remain self employed with full control over my business without the threat of a Wendy with a bigger advertising budget, I don't want to be pushed out if business. I elk e this will create a two tier system if childminders this will confuse parents and lead to our role as professionals bring compmarised. I have a degree In child are and I Am fully committed to further development and I believe that ofsted should inspect All childminders do that parents no the standard of inspection is the same fir everyone. How can a agency inspect childminders they may have no experience in this area. If someone needs someone to do there bookworm invoicing and set up their planning etc they are not caps me off doing this job. If feel like the gavermrnt is demeaning my profession by encouraging people who may not be suitable and are only doing the job as it fits around there kids. We will end up back to the times where childminders will be seen as babysitters! I do agree with the right to request inspection and would be happy to pay infact I would rather pay a higher annual ofsted fee than pay to join agencies.

Agencies will not lower chilcare costs only lower the quality of childcare and create a two tier system. I have been minding foe 18 years and have always been full and never had any problems filling my spaces. I would not work a 55 hour week if an agency was taking a cut of my money. We do not want or need and agency for childminders.

I have successfully run my childminding business for over twenty years, gaining a NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development and an Ofsted outstanding grading twice. I do not want to be part of an agency and although it appears I will be able to remain independent it is not clear at what cost either financially, eg will I have to pay for my individual inspection or in terms of sustainability, eg will I still be able to draw down the Early Years Funding, accept childcare vouchers etc?
I do not think the agency proposals have been thought through - where is the money coming from to fund them? Will childminders be expected to pay an agency fee from what often amounts to below minimum wage? If the agency is run by a school or children's centre what happens if they also have a vacancy as well as the childminder - there will be a conflict of interest.
Childminders build very close personal relationships with the families they work with. The essence of making a child feel safe and secure (an essential basis for future learning) depends on this close bond forming - how will this be possible if the arrangements are carried out by a third party? Does this Government feel that this is what parents want? Whatever happened to "Every Child Matters?"

The rational for Childminder Agencies does not add up. This is well documented and the pros and cons can be seen in an IPPR report.

Childminder agencies will only drive costs up and would not operate free of charge. Will they charge childminders for each element (registratio, inspection and support), or the public for sharing information or brokering childcare?

At the moment there is one body that regulates childminders, support is provided by the LA and promoted via a Family Information Service (FIS). Quite a simple model.

If a parent wants information they currently go to their local FIS. With agencies it would appear that they would have to approach many different agencies. Although there is a clause that tells agencies to share information with the LA/FIS I am concerned that the quality and process of finding a childminder will be compromised. Childminders are also generally happy with their local FIS, and even if they are unhappy it's only one service they need to contact.

With agencies the quality of support will also suffer. At the moment the LA ensures that there is a quality support programme in place. Yes there's 152 different authorities with their own package of support, but with agencies there could be tens or a hundred times more. LAs also have economy of size, and quality staff.

Agencies may increase the number of childminders that we have but quality will be put at risk. LAs have well established pre-registration support that fully explains what chidminding is about. Those that go through to registration are increasingly getting a 'good' Ofsted outcome at their first inspection. Agencies will be there to make money and get more people to childmind to the cost of quality provision.

We have less childminders now than in the last few years but these are normal market mechanisms kicking in due not only to the economic downturn, but in Ofsted being far more effective at encouraging childminders to give up that haven't minded children etc. The numbers are also falling due to the increased paperwork and a stronger inspection regime.

Childminders are a wonderful resource and key to the sufficiency of the childcare market and to parents who want a more homely childcare environment. Childminders also provide the flexible childcare that larger groups can't cater for. I agree that we need more childminders, and we need to improve quality and make childcare more affordable but childminder agencies aren't the answer.

I feel strongly that childminder agencies are not the way forward for childminders. I am also very concerned about the proposal for changes to childcare ratios. As a self employed childminder, i have built my business up to what i consider to be high quality and am proud of what i have achieved. Over the past 13 years of childminding i have embraced all the many previous changes that we have been through but feel i cannot support this. The family information service (FIS) support childminders well, and are surely doing the job that supposed agencies will do.
I am on the committee for my local childminding association and we provide support to each other and also run a voluntary vacancy scheme that helps parents find the best childminder for their needs. Our local Association has 80 childminder members and i do not know any of these members that would willingly join an agency. I feel that it would take away our personal identity, that is the close link and trust that we have with the families we care for. Childminders will not choose to lower their hourly rates, and it is yet another reason why many good childminders will give up the profession, in a time when schools are having to expand due to a 'baby boom' (particularly in my area) and there just isnt enough good childcare.

I have been a registered childminder since 1987 and have seen many changes over the years that I have embraced as best I can. I have worked very hard to do the best job I can, do all training I can and done it on my own. I object to the proposed Childminder Agencies & would not want to join one. As a registered childminder I feel that someone is now saying we are worthless, as we were considered a few years ago, but we are not we have worked hard to be equal and gain acceptance from other childcare professionals and it has not been easy. To say we are now to be just part of an agency will give people the view that we are not regarded equals we are a sub standard choice for parents. I work hard to provide a consistent & caring service to my children & their families, I rarely have a vacancy & I have been accredited since childminders were accepted as accredited childminders and I want to continue to be seen as an individual not someone who works in an agency who the government seem to feel in insignificant and not important to a child's future development so can be downgraded. Surely there is nothing more important than the welfare & safeguarding of children & young people? Regulation for all Early Years should be standard across all childcare settings whether individual childcarers or large group settings - only that way will we give children the best start in life. I welcome any member of Parliament to visit my setting to see just how hard my job is and what I do to ensure I am of equal importance to any other childcare settings.

I think it's disgusting I've worked hard. For 7 years to build up my reputation as a childminder and I'm not going to just hand over all that hard work to some agency and pay them a fee. For something that is proven I can do my self and as part of a network were we pass calls to each other . Parents. Normally choose a school before a cm and then find a cm who covers that school