Fall in childminders threatens government's childcare strategy

Recent research has revealed a significant fall in the number of registered childminders, despite the government's determination to help working parents by increasing the number of childcare places. Government statistics show a drop from 106,000 registered childminders in England in 1992 to 76,000 in 2000.

The study, carried out by London University's Institute of Education, says that reasons for the decline may include: low pay and the poor status of childminding; changes in the population, which mean there are fewer parents with young children interested in becoming childminders; greater flexibility in working hours in other types of employment; and increasing regulatory demands and a perceived lack of support from local authorities.

Registered childminders are the main providers of formal childcare while parents are working, and most are women with young children of their own, enabling them to combine paid self-employment with staying at home. Professor Peter Moss, a co-author of the study, said: "Childminding largely depends on women being prepared to work at home for low wages. The declining number of childminders suggests that the present situation is unsustainable."

Who cares? Childminding in the 1990s is published for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation by the Family Policy Studies Centre, and available from York Publishing Services, 64 Hallfield Road, Layerthorpe, York YO31 7ZQ (01904 430033) price £13.95 plus £2 p&p.

A summary of findings is available on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website at www.jrf.org.uk