CM Numbers continue to fall

[Arfa]

The latest figures for registered childcare providers have been released by Ofsted today and, not surprisingly, they show yet another drop. This time, though, the drop is the largest ever recorded and, for the 6th successive quarter, CM numbers are at their lowest since Ofsted started releasing figures way back in 2003.

This time, the fall is 1,671 CMs while the previous quarter was only (only!) 700. You should also bear in mind that these numbers include any new CMs, so that the number leaving is actually much bigger than the figures would suggest.

The figures released were for the quarter ending 31st December, 2008, which was the first quarter since the introduction of the EYFS. The figures were also based on the new registers so that they are likely to be the most accurate Ofsted have ever released.

bump

This isn't surprising to me considering the amount of extra work we now have to do.

I know of two cms who have given up in the last two weeks. With both they felt they had taken on too much workwise, their lives were taken over by the paperwork and the stress.

I love this job, but it can get stressful. When you are busy, its great financially but a headache doing all the work that comes with it, then when you are not busy it is a constant worry that you can't pay the bills. I have gone from one extreme to the other recently ! Quiet to busy, that is.

I have decided not to take on any more, or I could see myself heading down my friends route, it all getting too much !

So in 6 months there was a net fall of 2371

What is the total number of childminders in England (& I assume Wales)?

I think what concerns me, is that nobody cares. I really feel that the government doesn't want home based childcare, they have lost the concept of all the different types of childcare working together to give an overall "wrap around" care. They say they are, but the basics such as allowing us all to draw down on funding, keep us apart from the others (unless you are an acredited minder of course) but we are all made to do the same paperwork, only it is more difficult when we work alone, they seem to forget we don't have a cook, admin assistant, setting manager - everything is up to us. My DH isn't the most supportive and really doesn't understand the amount of work I have to do, which causes lots of arguments, especially when I am working leaving my own children to sort themselves out, even parents are shocked at the amount of paperwork that is required. I was reading First Steps magazine today that pretty much confirms that all childminders will be required to have a minimum level 3 by 2015, and a foundation degree in every setting will be required (will that also mean us?) Does it matter if the childminder hasn't got a qualification? many childminders do this job are brilliant with kids but not good with paper work (my ex childminder who looked after my daughter was a prime example, she had to give up when OFSTED first started as she couldn't cope with the paperwork, so took her skills to the local nursery instead) as long as she/he is satisfactorily inspected by OFSTED and the parents are happy why push? I am studying for my NVQ now - but only for my own benefit so that I can still work with children but get someone else to do all the paperwork, legislation and take on the risk, I can just enjoy the time purely with children then go home at the end of the day and relax, my home will also be my own, so basically I am a statistic waiting to happen! Bloody Hell I suddenly feel really depressed - off to the fridge for a glass of wine - not having a good week this week......

The figures released today are only for England because Wales and Scotland aren't regulated by Ofsted.

The total number of CMs in England at the end of December was 61,929. When Ofsted started regulating CMs in 2003, there were 68,200 CMs. Figures rose and continued to rise until June of 2004 when there were then 72,700 CMs. Since then, however, the numbers have slightly risen for 4 quarters, held steady once and fallen for the remaining 12 quarters. The numbers really started to fall in March of 2007, when the EYFS was announced, and have now fallen for 8 successive quarters. Co-incidence? You decide.

Arfa - can you link to the figures - I can't find them

This doesn't surprise me, I've heard of loads stopping, it's such a shame! I personally am looking into teaching (say reception aged children) in the long term. I love my job but now the paperwork is getting more equal to what teachers have to do, I may as well look into that and get my home back!! I can't imagine the paperwork could be any harder to fit in as the hours are shorter so the rest of the day could be spent on paperwork plus you have the school holidays whereas atm, I'm fighting to do it in the evenings and weekends as that's the only chance to sort it (oh, apart from using my week off recently of course!!). I do love my job but the paperwork is spoiling it and the parents think it's all crazy!

The latest report can be found here. It is only available as an Excel spreadsheet, but, if you haven't got that software, I have converted some of the pages to PDFs which I can email to you.

Thanks Arfa

In my area we are at about Mar 03 levels which is when I started (& I would agree with that tbh)

I will look at it in more detail after I have finished my ou work

will probably get shot down for this but to just get a satisfactory grading, cant alot of the paperwork be forgotten?

My honest personal opinion is that yes, there does seem to be a fair amount of paperwork, but as a self employed business person there always will be. Its sad that people are leaving a profession they love but in my case for example, my dh works so many hours that if my dd went into full time childcare, she would only see one of her parents for an hour or so a day, so the fact that I can (try to) earn a wage whilst being at home to care for her is an absolute godsend, regardless of how hard I have to work due to eyfs reg

looking in my area the number of childminders has steadily increased over the past 3 years

SMM - that is a bad thing - it's called competition

I know what you're saying SMM but I was self employed with lots of paperwork before EYFS, it's just that the amount has increased SO MUCH that my own children are suffering because I now spend a lot of time at weekends doing stuff so they don't get ANY quality time with me quite often (although I'm working at changing that now my inspection is out of the way, I can't carry on like this!). Yes, I'm there with my children BUT they are in the background whilst I'm sorting all the other children out so in a way, I actually think it would be better (for me anyway) to do a different job that still enables me to be there for my children but where I actually get to switch off and spend time with them at weekends! That's the plan anyway. Plus as much as I love it, my 2 kids are squashed in a small bedroom as the other room is a naptime room for the mindees. It would be nice if they could have their own rooms.

KatyMac - thats why it is sooo important that I am the best

Looneytune - I know exactly what you mean, I am sat here thinking about planning and what I need to do instead of taking dd out and I must say I dont have many mindees so may feel completely differently when i hopefully get busier, my only point was that, certainly for me, this is a much better option than any other job i looked at, and I think I now having the paperwork under control so that it doesnt take long on a daily basis.

One of the anomalies of the EYFS is that your own children are allowed to be 'neglected' because the EYFS only covers children who are minded for reward. So, while you are planning and documenting etc for your mindees, your own children can be sat in front of the TV and Ofsted won't criticise you or downgrade you for that.

Surely, if the EYFS is of such benefit to children, it should be a requirement for all children and not just mindees (not that I'm advocating that, you understand).

Well that is connected to the issue that if cm were employed they would be entitled to childcare support for their children, and they don't even get a tax rebate as their children effectively block a space

I'm not a childminder, but am thinking of using one and interested in the new laws etc around becoming one.

Not sure why you would have to neglect your own children..surely your paperwork etc should be done when children are in bed ?

ALso I think getting qualified works in your favour, showing you're more dedicated to the role ?

shortcircuit:

Not all CMs have children that are the same age as their mindees so they may not go to bed until much later in the evening.

Being qualified is not the same as the EYFS.

By the time your own children are in bed, you're too knackered to do the paperwork!!

When I started minding 3 years ago, I had a file with contracts, child record forms and permission slips for each child I looked after.I decided (ahead of EYFS!) to do daily diaries but only 1 parent wanted to do it.

I had about 8 policies and procedures. I was inspected 6 wks after I started and got a 'Good' grading which I was thrilled about.

NOW, for each child I have:

Personal file with contracts, child record forms, permission slips (numerous!), confirmation parents received and read HUGE file containing current policies and procedures

Daily diaries

Observation and assessment file, containing ondividual play plans (even though eyfs isn't supposed to be about 'planning' any more!

'All About Me' Scrap books containing their 'work' and photographs

On top of this I have:

The aforementioned file (currently 3ins thick!)containing policies and procedures to show how I meet all of the Welfare Requirements of EYFS (which has to be updated everytime 'they' decide to change the 'rules'!)

Parents Information file

EYFS Information for Parents file

Observation and Planning Information for Parents file

Risk Assessment File covering all types of outings as well as my home (must remember to risk assess my kittens before Ofsted come next week!)

Then of course, there are the attendance registers, accident and medical records, menu planning, accounts etc, etc .......... Oh, forgot all of the training courses which we have to attend (in our own time), which are usually in the evenings and weekends - taking me away from my family again

At the moment I work about 15 hrs a week but often spend longer than that on the 'business' side of it - and yes, that does mean sitting my ds in front of cbeebies after he's finished nursery! He's happy enough, but I became a cm to spend time at home with him, not do paperwork! In the past week, I've also spent hours filling out the SEF onine - all unpaid!

This is why lots of bl**dy good cms out there are giving up - many of them after lots of years spent caring for dozens of children.

I've (somehow ) found the time to pass my DHC and also the NVQ3 available to us, but it isn't helping me now to fill my places when I am competing with free breakfast clubs (run by the LEA!) and greatly reduced (subsidised!) wrap around nursery care . Mu earnings this year are down by about 30% - and I'm not the only one in my area.

When my ds starts school in September, I'll be another 'statistic' as I can't afford to continue as a cm - I too am looking at taking what I've learned through training and experience in to the formal teaching environment.

Sorry for the rant - but fellow cms out there will (hopefully!) understand. Feel much better now - heading for the fridge

BTW, fellow cms- is there anything I missed out above (ahead of impending OFSTED inspection!)

After a 50 hr week I'm not sure I have the energy to do any work after DD goes to bed at 8

I generally collapse on the floor & whimper

Totally agree. Kids go home at 6-6.30pm, i clean and tidy ready for the next day, put kids to bed, collapse in a heap and then remember I need to eat so have dinner then collapse again - have tried and tried to do paperwork in the evenings but I'm far too exhausted after a very energetic day with all the kiddies! Soooo, weekends is when it's all done usually

And don't start me on that bloody SEF!!! DON'T do it online!!! lol

Oh, and the parents all rolled their eyes when I gave the new handbook with MANY more policies to read and all the new permission forms. Sh*t, forgot to get them to sign to say I can wipe their kids noses.....must do that this weekend!!!

I'm a new childminder and registered in Jan 09 and i'm still putting the finishing touches to my house and my policies. As for menu planners i'm going to base it on what my mindees enjoy and introduce more veg and fruit and see if they would like to try new things.
I'm going to encourage the children to grow their own food in our veg plot so they can maybe enjoy it more?
As for planning i'm doing the basics based on the religious festivals and seasons.
Anything else will be child lead.
Scrapbooks for each child (one item a week) at the most, photos.
Observations, they say do a planned one once a month and record WOW! moments as they occur.
The biggest pain is the risk assesments but once they are written you just need to check it and date everytime its been reviewed.
The account side of it i've not even got into yet.
As although they say there are less childminders around i think its NOT to do with EYFS, its mainly because of after school clubs, breakfast clubs, sure start centers and parents staying at home.
There just aren't that many children around Not here anyway!

agree with lots of this, I have risk assessments and policies, daily diaries and do 3 month obs.
I am waiting for my Ofsted inspection, I am good and will kick up a bloody stink until I get a good.
We dont have to roll over you know, its not all one way and I will ask the inspector as many questions as he or she will ask me, for instance in the official bumf it states that cms do not need written policies, I have them so that should be a plus to me.
After all, I work for the parents and not the government, as I pointed out to the Ofsted official who first assessed me I charge almost as much as the local nursery so I am picked because parents want the home based care, and the one to one interaction for their children.