Childcare is to be deregulated

I don't think the pay child minders get reflects the level of hoop jumping they have to do.

I know of lots of brilliant child minders who left child minding a few years back due to ofsted inspections etc. not that they had bad ofsteds, just the stress of the process.

There most certainly should be some regulations, paediatric first aid being a must, but I think if parents want a nursery type setting and all that goes with it, they should pay nursery prices. I think some of the regulations are prohibitive and it doesn't surprise me that there is a lack of childminder vacancies in most areas.

Ive known child minders who had all the right qualifications etc, but weren't especially good IMO. All the right boxes being ticked doesn't necessarily mean they are better at their job.

I would want someone whos home is safe, who has nice toys and books, who takes my child out to the park to feed the ducks etc, who feeds them adequately and who is kind and caring. Basically someone who will do the same sort of things I would do with my child. I would want my pre-schooler cared for not taught.

Reading this has made me glad I resigned from childminding. All the work us cms put into our jobs is going to waste simply because of de-regulation.

I have NVQ Level 3, certificate in Paediatric First Aid, numerous training courses attended and for what?

I am now working part-time, cannot afford a childminder even if I worked full-time as we don't get any childcare help but if I was looking for one I would still want he/she to have some sort of qualification(NVQ Level 2/NNEB, Safeguarding children and First Aid) to mind my son if he was a baby or toddler.

I actually think what we are talking about is a degree of reduced regulation. I don't think anyone would be in favour of none at all. But I do think what we have now (EYFS is a good example) is a bit OTT.

I use a nursery for my two and work in a heavily regulated profession myself. Yes paperwork can be a pain in the arse and nobody enjoys inspections but I am not in favour of deregulation of child care AT ALL.

The issues people have with OFSTED frequently aren't related to regulation though. They are just enforcing badly worded legislation which obliges CMs and out of school clubs to implement EYFS.

Collective childcare had been regulated for a long time, since the 19th century. Up until recently the regulation was minimal - it concerned who was looking after children, how many and where to ensure that children weren't placed at risk. Then some busybodies decided that it should be compulsory for all children to be educated and observed every single waking moment and it all went downhill.

CMs generally are, and should be, safety conscious and that is partly down to the requirements to assess risk and prove that they've done so.

That whole situation has a whole lot more than lack of regulation going on.

A lot of parent (and child careers) support reduced red tape (i. e. deregulation). There is a place for some kind of inspection. But there is also a widely held view that OFSTED's powers are too great, and they often overstep the mark withouth any consequence. There is an e-petition (which is unfortunately now closed so I can't sign it) asking for the OFSTED quango to be shut down.

I wonder... How many people work for ofsted, and what does it cost to run annually. Perhaps the budget should be slashed and that money given to primary schools so they could reduce the class size? Or maybe back to parent so they can pay for their childcare? Or, hey, how bout this.... Let us keep our child benefit.

I think this is a first for me but if there were a like button I would have use it, Zuleika. Spot on.

Hmm where does it say that this woman was not subject to any regulation?

This is why childcare needs to be regulated.

What does 'an agency' mean?
We don't know until the details are announced

That childminders will have to sign up to agencies?
We don't know until the details are announced

What red tape is there to cut (ofsted inspections?).
Yes, although the evidence and opinions point overwhelmingly towards keeping an inspection regime. There are also the requirements imposed on Childminders who want to access Early Years Funding by Local Authority Networks (the free 15 hours for 3 and 4 year olds and also the new funding for 2 year olds). And planning departments. Food hygiene. Data protection act. Requirement to follow the whole EYFS regardless of whether a child is with you 4 hours a week or full time. There's lots...

From Jan will my childminder suddenly be allowed to take 5 children at a time?
Childminders are already allowed to care for up to 6 under 8s, but I assume you mean under 5s. Any change of that kind would require new legislation which will take time and require further consultation, so IMHO there will be no major changes in that short a timescale or without the approval of parliament.

Those who think they know what's coming should bear in mind that politicians work by 'positioning' announcements. This means that before an official announcement they may give briefings 'overplaying' what is coming - then when the real thing comes out they hope that everyone will breathe a sigh of relief. Or they may 'underplay' it by making general statements that cover a wide range of possibilities so that when it comes out and everyone says "this is terrible" they can point back at the briefings and say "but we told you this was coming". Or they may play it down the middle to gauge the reaction - if it is not too bad they will go back and toughen things up, but if there is an outcry they may have a rethink.

Or they may do all three at different times - look back over Truss's actions over the past six months and see if you can work out when she is doing what.

I'm a parent who uses a childminder and haven't the faintest idea what's going on. I've read the interview in nursery world and am none the wiser. What does 'an agency' mean? That childminders will have to sign up to agencies? What red tape is there to cut (ofsted inspections?). From Jan will my childminder suddenly be allowed to take 5 children at a time?

How would this effect us following EYFS etc? Will will still be inspected. Think it's time for me to leave

Oops. MrAnchovy, it sounds like I have old information. I am going to look into this again. Previously we were advised to consider becoming a registered childminders by the council, but it seems no longer relevant. Just checked on ofstead's web....

Is that what it does mean?

Nobody knows exactly what it means yet, although the situation you outline is highly unlikely.

Just looking into having a regular shared childminding on a rota basis with my NCT pals and the amount of red tape is scary

If there is no payment involved then there shouldn't be any red tape. Who is telling you to jump through what hoops?

Does deregulation mean no regulation? I'm a bit shocked if it means that any old person can set themselves up and call themselves a childminder with no CRB check or safety checks. Is that what it does mean?

Will be watching with interest. Just looking into having a regular shared childminding on a rota basis with my NCT pals and the amount of red tape is scary...

I couldn't disagree more with wannaBe. With a few exceptions, most parents do not know what to look for and what to ask.

A local nursery has just had an appalling OFSTED inspection - their 2nd, with no evidence of having attempted to address issues raised in the first. Parents had stated they were happy with the nursery and their children loved attending. Since OFSTED, the majority have taken their children out of that nursery: they had no idea that their children were at risk (no first aiders) and their learning and development was actually inhibited by poor practice. They didn't realise that the nursery was breaking basic regulations until they read that damning report.

I have had prospective parents ask me what questions they should ask.

Do you realise that, under deregulation, this nursery would still be providing its poor care and parents would be completely unaware of what was going on?

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I'd be interested to see how any deregulation affects childcare vouchers.

AIBU - am I being unreasonable. It's quite a high traffic area of mumsnet.

I think the entity formerly know as NCMA and CMs, and the rest if the sector, need to be clear on what regulation is, what it does and why it exists. It's not about EYFS or mini nurseries. It's about the people who look after children knowing first aid, having an idea of what a CM dies before they start caring for children, being accountable by holding insurance and providing a SAFE environment. That is the core purpose if regulation and that is what must not be touched.

I've been a child minder and I've used childminders as a parent.

I wouldn't use an unregistered child minder.

I want a child minder who:

• has been checked
• has had their home safety checked
• has had CRBs done (I know these's aren't a guarantee but better than no checks at all)
• has done at least the basics in terms of courses (paediatric first aid, child protection, level 2 at least in childcare)
• is insured
• sticks to small ratios
• follows procedures
• views themselves as a professional running a business.

Currently you only get help with childcare if you are using a registered provider. Will this change? Will you get childcare help regardless of what provider you choose? Will childcare help be scrapped/pared down?