This document discusses concerns about proposed changes in the Children and Families Bill that would allow childminders to register with childminder agencies rather than directly with Ofsted. Key points made include:
- Parents and childminders have voiced concerns that agency registration would reduce confidence in childcare quality and increase costs. Experience in other countries like the Netherlands shows agency models can lead to declining standards.
- Ofsted registration of individual childminders has improved standards and provides transparent quality information for parents. Agency monitoring may not provide consistent quality judgements.
- Agencies would have higher fixed costs than Ofsted and may pass these costs on to childminders and parents through higher fees.
- The number
A report commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) by the NICVA Centre for Economic Empowerment and published 1 December 2015.
The report employs a cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic benefits and costs of applying international systems of highly-subsidised childcare (Quebec, Denmark and Netherlands).
Appendices to the report are available at http://www.nicva.org/resource/universal-childcare-northern-ireland-cost-benefit-analysis
Unless the federal government does a dramatic about face, the public health insurance exchanges will be up and running October 1 for enrollment in 2014. Many employers are also facing an October 1 deadline that imposes a paperwork burden.
This webinar focused on what the new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, means for small businesses. It focused on both federal and state provisions to help local small business owners understand how the law will affect them.
EBN Feb 2016 The ABCs of Employee BenefitsDaniel Michels
Employee Benefit News' article "The ABCs of employee benefits" by Ed Bray, JD, published in the February 2016 edition of EBN. Source: http://www.benefitnews.com/
HEALTH CARE REFORM 2010: Top Ten Things Every Employer Should Know about the 2010 health care laws: The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act and the Health Care
& Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010
A report commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) by the NICVA Centre for Economic Empowerment and published 1 December 2015.
The report employs a cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic benefits and costs of applying international systems of highly-subsidised childcare (Quebec, Denmark and Netherlands).
Appendices to the report are available at http://www.nicva.org/resource/universal-childcare-northern-ireland-cost-benefit-analysis
Unless the federal government does a dramatic about face, the public health insurance exchanges will be up and running October 1 for enrollment in 2014. Many employers are also facing an October 1 deadline that imposes a paperwork burden.
This webinar focused on what the new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, means for small businesses. It focused on both federal and state provisions to help local small business owners understand how the law will affect them.
EBN Feb 2016 The ABCs of Employee BenefitsDaniel Michels
Employee Benefit News' article "The ABCs of employee benefits" by Ed Bray, JD, published in the February 2016 edition of EBN. Source: http://www.benefitnews.com/
HEALTH CARE REFORM 2010: Top Ten Things Every Employer Should Know about the 2010 health care laws: The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act and the Health Care
& Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010
Every year the Family and Childcare Trust collects statistics about childcare costs and availability in Britain.
Our data – collected from local authority Family Information Services – makes it possible to monitor changes in childcare costs and supply from year to year.
All our reports are widely used by policymakers and academics in all parts of the UK and beyond.
About a third of UK families use informal (unregulated) childcare from grandparents, other relatives, friends and babysitters. However, little is known about informal childcare or the factors that are associated with its use. From 2010-2012, we undertook a two-year study of informal childcare, with funding from the Big Lottery.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
2012 Improving Quality in the Early Years (Sandra Mathers, Rosanna Singler and Arjette Karemaker)
This research, undertaken in partnership with the University of Oxford, looks at how different groups – parents, Ofsted and early years providers – understand quality. It was funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
A wide-ranging examination of international research and other literature that analyses current definitions, theoretical models and measurement tools, and examines quality issues such as validity and transferability, as well as the conceptual and practical challenges of measuring family wellbeing. It considers whether existing datasets and surveys could be used for measuring family wellbeing and proposes future directions for such research in the UK. It also includes comprehensive appendices that detail the many concepts and measures that have been identified in the literature. Download can government measure family wellbeing report.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
London faces some unique childcare challenges. Its nurseries and childminders are about 25 per cent more expensive than elsewhere in the UK. A high proportion of employees work outside normal office hours but cannot count on relatives to be able to provide informal childcare. The Family and Childcare Trust was funded by Trust for London to produce our 2012 London Childcare Survey.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
The 2012 Report Card indicated it is becoming difficult for the Prime Minister to stick to his commitment of creating a society which truly supports family life. The report card highlights that the condition of the economy continues to make life intensely difficult for millions of UK families, who currently face a triple squeeze of tax and benefit changes, high childcare costs and high costs of living.
About a third of UK families use informal (unregulated) childcare from grandparents, other relatives, friends and babysitters. However, little is known about informal childcare or the factors that are associated with its use. From 2010-2012, we undertook a two-year study of informal childcare, with funding from the Big Lottery.
The impact of spending cuts on services to children and families in eight local authorities. Drawing on interviews and analysis of revenue spending carried out by ESRO researchers, Families on the front line? examines children’s services budgets in eight different local authorities in England over two financial years (2011-12 and 2012-13).
Council officers described the efforts to shield families from the worst effects of this round of cuts, including the bold re-design and integration of services to families and sweeping cuts to back-office functions. But they predict that any further savings will be far more difficult to find – and are likely to hit front line services even harder.
Access denied: A report on childcare sufficiency and market management in Eng...Family and Childcare Trust
Childcare provision is a crucial part of a modern state’s
infrastructure: it enables parents to work, improves
children’s outcomes and helps narrow the gap
between disadvantaged children and their peers. The
importance of childcare is now recognised and over
the last 20 years there have been many policy changes
that have aimed to make childcare more affordable
for families, through free early education, tax credits,
vouchers and the new tax-free childcare scheme. Most
recently, the Government has announced that it will
double the hours of free early education for three and
four year olds, with working parents offered 30 hours
per week by 2017. But over the years officials and
decision-makers have given less attention to the other
side of the childcare conundrum - the availability of
childcare. Today, shortages of early education places
in some areas are putting the Government’s new
childcare plans in jeopardy.
The Family and Childcare Trust briefs MPs and peers on legislation and policy issues affecting families.
These briefings are also helpful for anyone who wants a summary of the evidence, research findings and subsequent recommendations on key areas of family and children policy.
About a third of UK families use informal (unregulated) childcare from grandparents, other relatives, friends and babysitters. However, little is known about informal childcare or the factors that are associated with its use. From 2010-2012, we undertook a two-year study of informal childcare, with funding from the Big Lottery.
Research published in February 2014 shows a growing number of local authorities across England are failing in their legal duties to families to provide outreach and childcare brokerage services.
This invited presentation for the Institute of Health Visiting Leadership Conference gives a DPH view on the future of Child Public Health and the need for a systems approach
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
SROI national specialist family service 2013Minney org Ltd
Phoenix Futures (National Specialist Family Service - substance misuse rehabilitation) Social Return on Investment report. Demonstrates the value for money both in overall terms, and in direct cash flow to local authority social services / NHS / judiciary
Every year the Family and Childcare Trust collects statistics about childcare costs and availability in Britain.
Our data – collected from local authority Family Information Services – makes it possible to monitor changes in childcare costs and supply from year to year.
All our reports are widely used by policymakers and academics in all parts of the UK and beyond.
About a third of UK families use informal (unregulated) childcare from grandparents, other relatives, friends and babysitters. However, little is known about informal childcare or the factors that are associated with its use. From 2010-2012, we undertook a two-year study of informal childcare, with funding from the Big Lottery.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
2012 Improving Quality in the Early Years (Sandra Mathers, Rosanna Singler and Arjette Karemaker)
This research, undertaken in partnership with the University of Oxford, looks at how different groups – parents, Ofsted and early years providers – understand quality. It was funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
A wide-ranging examination of international research and other literature that analyses current definitions, theoretical models and measurement tools, and examines quality issues such as validity and transferability, as well as the conceptual and practical challenges of measuring family wellbeing. It considers whether existing datasets and surveys could be used for measuring family wellbeing and proposes future directions for such research in the UK. It also includes comprehensive appendices that detail the many concepts and measures that have been identified in the literature. Download can government measure family wellbeing report.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
London faces some unique childcare challenges. Its nurseries and childminders are about 25 per cent more expensive than elsewhere in the UK. A high proportion of employees work outside normal office hours but cannot count on relatives to be able to provide informal childcare. The Family and Childcare Trust was funded by Trust for London to produce our 2012 London Childcare Survey.
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
The 2012 Report Card indicated it is becoming difficult for the Prime Minister to stick to his commitment of creating a society which truly supports family life. The report card highlights that the condition of the economy continues to make life intensely difficult for millions of UK families, who currently face a triple squeeze of tax and benefit changes, high childcare costs and high costs of living.
About a third of UK families use informal (unregulated) childcare from grandparents, other relatives, friends and babysitters. However, little is known about informal childcare or the factors that are associated with its use. From 2010-2012, we undertook a two-year study of informal childcare, with funding from the Big Lottery.
The impact of spending cuts on services to children and families in eight local authorities. Drawing on interviews and analysis of revenue spending carried out by ESRO researchers, Families on the front line? examines children’s services budgets in eight different local authorities in England over two financial years (2011-12 and 2012-13).
Council officers described the efforts to shield families from the worst effects of this round of cuts, including the bold re-design and integration of services to families and sweeping cuts to back-office functions. But they predict that any further savings will be far more difficult to find – and are likely to hit front line services even harder.
Access denied: A report on childcare sufficiency and market management in Eng...Family and Childcare Trust
Childcare provision is a crucial part of a modern state’s
infrastructure: it enables parents to work, improves
children’s outcomes and helps narrow the gap
between disadvantaged children and their peers. The
importance of childcare is now recognised and over
the last 20 years there have been many policy changes
that have aimed to make childcare more affordable
for families, through free early education, tax credits,
vouchers and the new tax-free childcare scheme. Most
recently, the Government has announced that it will
double the hours of free early education for three and
four year olds, with working parents offered 30 hours
per week by 2017. But over the years officials and
decision-makers have given less attention to the other
side of the childcare conundrum - the availability of
childcare. Today, shortages of early education places
in some areas are putting the Government’s new
childcare plans in jeopardy.
The Family and Childcare Trust briefs MPs and peers on legislation and policy issues affecting families.
These briefings are also helpful for anyone who wants a summary of the evidence, research findings and subsequent recommendations on key areas of family and children policy.
About a third of UK families use informal (unregulated) childcare from grandparents, other relatives, friends and babysitters. However, little is known about informal childcare or the factors that are associated with its use. From 2010-2012, we undertook a two-year study of informal childcare, with funding from the Big Lottery.
Research published in February 2014 shows a growing number of local authorities across England are failing in their legal duties to families to provide outreach and childcare brokerage services.
This invited presentation for the Institute of Health Visiting Leadership Conference gives a DPH view on the future of Child Public Health and the need for a systems approach
Family and Childcare Trust's annual review is a record of our achievements over the past financial year, including details of our funders, alongside details about our staff and members of our trustee board.
SROI national specialist family service 2013Minney org Ltd
Phoenix Futures (National Specialist Family Service - substance misuse rehabilitation) Social Return on Investment report. Demonstrates the value for money both in overall terms, and in direct cash flow to local authority social services / NHS / judiciary
2009 Quality Costs (Mike Brewer, Kate Goddard, Sandra Gruescu, Maxine Hill, Emma Knight, Jonathan Rallings) Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, this research looked at the costs and options for improving the quality of childcare in Britain.
Every year the Family and Childcare Trust collects statistics about childcare costs and availability in Britain.
Our data – collected from local authority Family Information Services – makes it possible to monitor changes in childcare costs and supply from year to year.
All our reports are widely used by policymakers and academics in all parts of the UK and beyond.
Tweddle's joint submission to 'Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry'Tweddle Australia
Victoria's early parenting centres, including Tweddle, have urged the Protection Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry Panel to recommend strengthening support to families in the critical early years and to invest in therapeutic early intervention and prevention programs for families of infants and children up to the age of 4.
For more information about the inquiry and its terms of reference see here - http://bit.ly/jEJ5dn
How wise plan managers acted "outside-the industry box" to improve health whi...Dan Ross
Employer health plan sponsor invests in employee/member health in a manner opposite to high-deductible plan designs. Free primary care and generic drugs bring huge plan and employee savings! Spending $50 million funnels Pasco Schools (FL) to hire their own physicians!
Looking back it has been a longstanding anomaly of Guernsey’s employment laws that there are no express provisions dealing with the rights of either pregnant workers or new mothers. It was announced back in 2012 that Guernsey would finally be taking steps to introduce legislation to protect the rights of pregnant women and provide a guaranteed period of maternity leave for new mothers. It is anticipated that those new laws should be in force by early 2016, but in advance of that the CIPD Guernsey branch has undertaken a survey to identify what arrangements local employers already have in place to recognise the essential contribution to the island’s economy made by the female workforce. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have responded to the survey and having reviewed the results, the overwhelming approach that most employers take is a positive one which is encouraging to see.
The Family and Childcare Trust briefs MPs and peers on legislation and policy issues affecting families.
These briefings are also helpful for anyone who wants a summary of the evidence, research findings and subsequent recommendations on key areas of family and children policy.
A two-part report published in February 2004. Part one details and analyses the results of a MORI poll, which found that 84% of parents felt that companies targeted their children too much. It also sets out the Family and Parenting Institute’s recommendations and looks at how other countries approach the issue. Part two presents the full report of a conference on marketing to children, which brought together opinion formers and policy makers in an open debate on the topic.
There has been an impassioned debate about children’s wellbeing in Britain since a 2007 UNICEF report on the subject put the UK at the bottom of a list of 21 rich countries.
In our report, we use data from the 2005 Families and Children Study (FACS) to look at England, Scotland and Wales, and compare income and wellbeing indicators in all three countries.
Adjusted incomes (for what families can buy with it) are slightly smaller for Child poverty is greater in England than in Scotland and Wales, and low incomepoorer families tend to have slightly lower purchasing power, and child poverty is greater in England than in Scotland and Wales, but England fares better than its smaller neighbours when it comes to key wellbeing indicators, such as health, housing and child behaviour.
We argue that, when comparing different countries on the British mainland, income by itself is not the best measure of children's wellbeing.
In the midst of the national soul-searching that followed the riots of August 2011, one explanation soon came to dominate: the idea that poor parenting had somehow paved the way for civil unrest. The Family and Parenting Institute invited a range of commentators and organisations to consider the pressures on modern parenting, what can be learnt from the reaction to the riots, and what these developments might mean for parenting policy. ‘Where now for parenting?’ brings together views from leading experts on the state of UK parenting
In 2011 the Prime Minister proposed implementing a family test for all domestic policies. This paper was the Family and Parenting Institute’s initial response to the proposal. Family and Parenting Institute welcomed the concept and argued that family-proofing domestic policies would make for a more coordinated approach across different Departments. The report considers what would be needed to make a family test a success, including the need to develop more than a checklist, tackling culture as well as process, improving consultation and dialogue with families, and committing to independent assessment of any progress.
Between March 2004 and March 2011, the Family and Parenting Institute managed the Parenting Fund on behalf of successive UK governments. The parenting fund was the largest and most successful scheme ever to support UK parenting.
The Parenting Fund provided support to a web of grassroots organisations across the country which, in turn, supported the most vulnerable families in their communities. The families who were helped were experiencing problems including intergenerational unemployment, relationships marked by conflict, drink and drug abuse, and frequent contact with the police.
This report examines the success of the fund and the Family and Parenting Institute’s role in administering funding
Coalition Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to make Britain a truly family friendly country. This pledge created an opportunity for the government to 'family-proof' its new policies, creating conditions that really help families thrive. However, as the 2010 Report Card shows, there is a considerable distance to go before this aspiration can be achieved.
The 2011 Report Card edition of the report card highlights the scale of the government’s challenge in delivering the Prime Minister’s commitment to make the UK the most family friendly country in Europe. The report shows how tough making the UK family friendly is given the economic climate and considerable squeeze on public and family finances.
The poll Time to care: generation generosity under pressure shows that grandparents have given a total of £8 billion in the past year to pay for a range of grandchildren’s needs, and that nearly two million grandparents have given up a job, reduced their hours or taken time off work to look after their grandchildren.
The poll Time to care: generation generosity under pressure shows that grandparents have given a total of £8 billion in the past year to pay for a range of grandchildren’s needs, and that nearly two million grandparents have given up a job, reduced their hours or taken time off work to look after their grandchildren.
The Ipsos MORI report, Family Matters, followed eleven families feeling the strain from depressed incomes, rising living costs and cuts to benefits and services. The report provides insight into the lived experiences of modern families away from the policy and political debates that dominate discourse about families. The key drivers of family fragility – whether financial, emotional, relational or physical – were the four C’s: cost of living, cars, credit and childcare.
An Institute for Fiscal Studies report, commissioned by the Family and Parenting Institute, was the first to reveal the impact of national austerity measures and welfare reform on family income and prospects for poverty rates and income for different family types up to the year 2015.
The Families in the Age of Austerity final summary of the project draws these strands together, presenting a multi-dimensional picture of family life through an age of austerity. Through the report the Family and Childcare Trust also highlights a series of policy recommendations to help families cope with the pressures of austerity.
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Canadian Immigration Tracker March 2024 - Key SlidesAndrew Griffith
Highlights
Permanent Residents decrease along with percentage of TR2PR decline to 52 percent of all Permanent Residents.
March asylum claim data not issued as of May 27 (unusually late). Irregular arrivals remain very small.
Study permit applications experiencing sharp decrease as a result of announced caps over 50 percent compared to February.
Citizenship numbers remain stable.
Slide 3 has the overall numbers and change.
Up the Ratios Bylaws - a Comprehensive Process of Our Organizationuptheratios
Up the Ratios is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap in STEM education for underprivileged students by providing free, high-quality learning opportunities in robotics and other STEM fields. Our mission is to empower the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem-solvers by offering a range of educational programs that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
At Up the Ratios, we believe that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, should have access to the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in today's technology-driven world. To achieve this, we host a variety of free classes, workshops, summer camps, and live lectures tailored to students from underserved communities. Our programs are designed to be engaging and hands-on, allowing students to explore the exciting world of robotics and STEM through practical, real-world applications.
Our free classes cover fundamental concepts in robotics, coding, and engineering, providing students with a strong foundation in these critical areas. Through our interactive workshops, students can dive deeper into specific topics, working on projects that challenge them to apply what they've learned and think creatively. Our summer camps offer an immersive experience where students can collaborate on larger projects, develop their teamwork skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.
In addition to our local programs, Up the Ratios is committed to making a global impact. We take donations of new and gently used robotics parts, which we then distribute to students and educational institutions in other countries. These donations help ensure that young learners worldwide have the resources they need to explore and excel in STEM fields. By supporting education in this way, we aim to nurture a global community of future leaders and innovators.
Our live lectures feature guest speakers from various STEM disciplines, including engineers, scientists, and industry professionals who share their knowledge and experiences with our students. These lectures provide valuable insights into potential career paths and inspire students to pursue their passions in STEM.
Up the Ratios relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue our work. Contributions of time, expertise, and financial support are crucial to sustaining our programs and expanding our reach. Whether you're an individual passionate about education, a professional in the STEM field, or a company looking to give back to the community, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.
We are proud of the positive impact we've had on the lives of countless students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in STEM. By providing these young minds with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, we are not only changing their futures but also contributing to the advancement of technology and innovation on a broader scale.
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Russian anarchist and anti-war movement in the third year of full-scale warAntti Rautiainen
Anarchist group ANA Regensburg hosted my online-presentation on 16th of May 2024, in which I discussed tactics of anti-war activism in Russia, and reasons why the anti-war movement has not been able to make an impact to change the course of events yet. Cases of anarchists repressed for anti-war activities are presented, as well as strategies of support for political prisoners, and modest successes in supporting their struggles.
Thumbnail picture is by MediaZona, you may read their report on anti-war arson attacks in Russia here: https://en.zona.media/article/2022/10/13/burn-map
Links:
Autonomous Action
http://Avtonom.org
Anarchist Black Cross Moscow
http://Avtonom.org/abc
Solidarity Zone
https://t.me/solidarity_zone
Memorial
https://memopzk.org/, https://t.me/pzk_memorial
OVD-Info
https://en.ovdinfo.org/antiwar-ovd-info-guide
RosUznik
https://rosuznik.org/
Uznik Online
http://uznikonline.tilda.ws/
Russian Reader
https://therussianreader.com/
ABC Irkutsk
https://abc38.noblogs.org/
Send mail to prisoners from abroad:
http://Prisonmail.online
YouTube: https://youtu.be/c5nSOdU48O8
Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/libertarianlifecoach/episodes/Russian-anarchist-and-anti-war-movement-in-the-third-year-of-full-scale-war-e2k8ai4
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
PPT Item # 9 - 2024 Street Maintenance Program(SMP) Amendment
Childminder agencies briefing
1. 1
Children and Families Bill House of Lords Report Stage briefing: Clause 74 –
Childminder agencies
Clause 74 revises the Childcare Act 2006 so that a childminder may
register with a childminder agency rather than Ofsted. Agencies would be
inspected by Ofsted, whilst childminders registered with an agency would
be monitored by the agency itself. The government argues that this will
remove ‘red tape’ in the form of Ofsted registration and that agencies
would offer support to childminders, ‘making it easier for them to
concentrate on delivering high quality care’.
Summary
● Clause 74 will undermine successful childminder registration arrangements
that serve the interests of children, parents and childminders themselves. The
agency model will increase costs for childminders and parents and do little to
attract new childminders to the profession.
● We favour removing the clause from the Bill and concentrating on credible
steps to support childminders and deliver affordable, high quality care for
children and parents. If the clause is not deleted, there are amendments that
would improve the proposed quality monitoring and evaluation arrangements,
and ensure consistent and transparent quality information for parents.
● Given the concerns about the agency model, the government should properly
pilot and consult on childminder agencies.
Views of parents and childminders
Parents and childminders have voiced a number of concerns about the impact the
option of joining an agency will have on the quality and safety of childcare provided.
In a PACEY (formerly the National Childminders Association) survey with Netmums,
the majority of parents stated that:1
Ofsted registration and inspection of individual childminders provides them
with confidence that a childminder is suitable to care for their child (80%).
They would be less likely to use a childminder if they were regulated by an
agency rather than Ofsted (75%).
The majority of childminders who have responded to PACEY’s own research on this
issue have stated agencies would:
Confuse parents and create a two‐tiered system of childminding regulation
(82%).
1
National Childminders Association and Netmums (2012) Childminders: Parents views of using and
choosing childminders; PACEY (2013) More Great Childcare Childminder Survey (384 responses)
2. 2
Damage hard‐won parental confidence in registered childminding (57%).
Lower standards of care as happened in other countries (77%).
Create a potential conflict between an agency’s drive to make profit (by
retaining childminders on its register) and ensuring quality of care (77%).
Lead to greater costs for their business.
The majority of registered childminders are unlikely to take up the option of joining an
agency, with over 70% stating that they can see no benefits to joining.
Childminder inspection
The local authority led childminder registration system did not work effectively before
the Care Standards Act 2000, through which registration with Ofsted became
mandatory in 2001. A localised system did not provide confidence to parents or work
as a mechanism to raise the standard of early education. There were different local
approaches to regulation and inspection and no common standards to provide a
reliable, transparent measure of quality. There were also serious difficulties for
childminders: delays in registration were common and the high cost of registration
could a barrier for people who wished to join the profession.
In 1999, registration with Ofsted was chosen from the options available to the
government for a new system of regulation because Ofsted had a track record of
quality improvement and is trusted by parents.2
Ofsted registration became
mandatory for childminders in 2001 when the then government also started to fund
an expansion of childminder quality networks, which provide free or subsidised
training to childminders.
Individual childminder registration is affordable for childminders and has played a
key role in improving standards in the childminding profession. The proportion of
childminders receiving an ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’ Ofsted grade rose five per cent to
71 per cent between 2009/10 and 2011/12.
Childminder agencies would have high fixed costs because of mandatory support
and monitoring requirements (which are elsewhere typically subsidised by Ofsted
and local authorities). The government estimates that Ofsted currently spends an
estimated £708 per childminder inspection.3
With lower economies of scale,
agencies will need to increase costs to parents, risk business failure, or provide a
less robust assessment than Ofsted.
Ofsted has advised that the best way to improve childminder quality and bring down
2
Standing Committee G (Care Standards Bill), Sixteenth Sitting, 29 June 2000, House of Commons
Official Report, p. 557
3
Evidence Pack, Childcare: Children and Families Bill 2013, Department for Education (2013) p. 5
3. 3
the costs of regulation is to create a regional hub and spoke model based on
outstanding provision.4
Ofsted also noted in its recent Good early years provision for
all consultation document that the challenge mechanism of inspection is an important
part of driving improvement in early years provision.5
Moreover, PACEY (formerly the
National Childminders Association) reports that childminders rarely leave the
profession due to Ofsted registration and is campaigning to maintain individual
Ofsted inspection of childminders.6
For childminders, participation in a credible
unified early years regulation system is rightly a key concern.
The agency business model and costs to parents
Whilst childminders pay £35 a year to register with Ofsted, inspection costs are far
higher than this at around £350 per childminder per year and are subsidised by the
government as a policy choice to support high quality care. This is in common with
other early years providers. Local childminder quality networks are also subsidised
by local authorities so that childminders can access affordable continuing
professional development, which in turn supports high quality local childcare without
passing costs directly to parents.
Childminder agencies would not receive these subsidies and would need to meet
these costs directly, either through higher registration fees for childminders or
through higher costs to parents. Childminder agencies offer local authorities a route
to reduce spending on childminder quality networks and transfer costs to
professionals and parents.
There is limited choice of childcare in many areas, particularly for parents working
atypical hours who require the flexible childcare childminders offer, and the potential
for childminder agencies to inflate childcare prices for particular groups of parents.
Childminder numbers
Concerns have been raised during passage of the Children and Families Bill about
the fall in the number of childminders. It is correct that the number of registered
childminders fell by around 17 per cent between 2003, when Ofsted registration
began, and 2013 (from 72,000 to 56,000).7
However, the majority of that change
occurred well after Ofsted registration began, in the three years from 2007 to 2010
(when numbers declined from 70,000 to 58,000), during which time the recession
was at its most acute and there was similar consolidation in the wider childcare
sector.
It is also important to understand these figures in context. Between 1982 and 1990
4
The Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2011/12:
Early Years (2012), p. 5; p. 12
5
Good early years provision for all, Ofsted (2013), p. 7
6
See the ‘Individual Inspection Matters’ campaign
7
Ofsted registration data
4. 4
the number of childminders increased from 44,145 to 83,904.8
This rise reflects the
sharp increase in female employment over the same period, as the services sector
grew whilst the manufacturing sector declined, and the absence of alternative formal
childcare arrangements. In contrast, from the early 1990s female employment has
plateaued and the number of formal childcare places has dramatically increased,
from less than 100,000 in the early 1990s to 1.3 million in England today. This
means there was both stagnant demand and an affordable alternative to
childminders in the form of nursery places. In recent years the numbers of
childminders has stabilised, with more childminders joining than leaving the
profession in 2010/11, but a small decline in 2011/12.
The number of registered childminders must also be seen in the context of
persistently low childminder wages (the average wage for a childminder in 2011-12
was £12,2009
).
More must be done to attract new entrants to the childminding profession but
childminder agencies will not address these causal factors. Government can support
childminders through structural investment that addresses low wages and builds on
the success of childminder quality networks to create a credible, consistent
registration and quality support system.
Experience of childminder agencies in the Netherlands
The childminder agency proposal is based on a model created in the Netherlands.
Separate assessments of the experience of the Netherlands by Daycare Trust and
the Institute for Public Policy Research show that there are significant weaknesses to
this model which should cause policy makers in England to think carefully before
proceeding along similar lines.10
Research commissioned for the coalition government’s Childcare Commission noted
that deregulation and marketization in the Netherlands had ‘largely failed’. The
number of childminders rose exponentially because a loophole in legislation allowed
relatives of children to register as childminders and claim state financial support.11
The policy had less success in attracting new professionals to childminding. At the
same time, a continuous decrease in quality has been observed due, for example, to
insufficient training and increased pressures on staff time. Ultimately, the Dutch
government reversed its policy of deregulation, re-imposing cost controls and
minimum quality standards, and in 2012 began the process of formalising these
standards in regulations.
There are two key lessons from experience in the Netherlands:
8
The Rumbold Report: Starting with Quality, Department for Education and Science (1990), para. 34
9
Childcare Provider Finances Survey, Department for Education (2012), p. 42
10
Double Dutch: The case against deregulation and demand-led funding in childcare, Kathleen
Henehan and Graeme Cooke, Institute for Public Policy Research (2012); Childminders in the
Netherlands, Eva Lloyd and Daycare Trust staff, Daycare Trust (2012)
11
The Costs of Childcare, Helen Penn and Eva Lloyd, Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre (2013),
pp. 38-44
5. 5
● The Dutch government was forced by declining standards to revisit the
agency model and tighten regulatory arrangements; and
● the success the Netherlands achieved in raising childminder numbers and
reducing costs to parents was caused by significant investment (the
Netherlands also at this time created a duty for large employers to contribute
to childcare costs). Agencies, even in a deregulated model, are of themselves
unlikely to bring down costs to parents or increase the number of childminders
in the profession without matching investment.
Key questions:
● How will childminder agencies avoid a conflict of interest between assessing
the quality of childminders and offering their services for profit to parents?
● How will the agency model be effectively piloted if trials take place in advance
of enabling legislation, in particular the vital areas of safeguarding, quality
assurance and inspection?
● How will parents have access to reliable information on the quality of
childminders, which they currently obtain through Ofsted inspection grades
and reports?
● How will the government ensure childminder agencies do not increase
registration costs to childminders and childcare costs to parents?
● How will the government ensure there is a consistent national offer of quality
and professional support to childminders, not a ‘post code lottery’?
Childminder agency tabled amendments (as of 24 January)
Individual childminder inspection
Schedule 4
BARONESS HUGHES OF STRETFORD
BARONESS JONES OF WHITCHURCH
Page 171, line 15, after “agency” insert “, or any individual childminder registered at
the agency,”
Page 171, line 21, at end insert—
“( ) The Chief Inspector must at such intervals as may be prescribed
inspect all early years provision registered with an early years
childminder agency.”
6. 6
This amendment is designed to ensure that all childminders continue to be inspected
by Ofsted. It should be noted that, as clause 74 simply establishes a new registration
framework for childminder agencies, removing the clause itself would have the same
effect as this amendment.
Ofsted reporting on childminder quality
Schedule 4
BARONESS WALMSLEY
LORD STOREY
BARONESS TYLER OF ENFIELD
BARONESS SHARP OF GUILDFORD
Page 171, line 32, at end insert—
“the quality of the care and early education offered by the early years providers
registered with the agency,”
Under the government’s proposed registration framework, when Ofsted inspects an
agency it would also inspect a sample of childminders. However, Ofsted would be
obliged only to report on the quality of support offered by an agency to childminders
rather than on the quality of childminding care itself. This amendment would oblige
Ofsted to report on the quality of care delivered by childminders.
Schedule 4
LORD NASH
Page 171, line 35, leave out “and”
Page 171, line 37, at end insert “, and
(c) the effectiveness of the arrangements of the early years
childminder agency for assuring itself of the quality of the
care and education provided by the early years providers
registered with it.”
Page 178, line 44, leave out “and”
Page 179, line 2, at end insert “, and
(c) the effectiveness of the arrangements of the later years
childminder agency for assuring itself of the quality of the
care and education provided by the later years providers
registered with it.”
This amendment, tabled by the government, extends the areas Ofsted must report
7. 7
on when inspecting childminder agencies to include quality monitoring
arrangements. Whilst this is a welcome improvement to the legislation, this language
creates a lower standard for childminder agencies than equivalent early years
providers (as noted below). It also does not resolve fundamental concerns about
creating a regulatory framework in which commercial providers assess the quality of
their own service provision, and in which there may not be clear information for
parents on childminder quality.
Potential additional amendments
We are clear that the agency proposal has serious flaws and believe that the best
way forward would be to remove clause 74 from the Children and Families Bill.
Failing this, there are amendments that would help mitigate the flaws of the agency
model:
1. Consultation
Despite a clear professional consensus that the agency model is flawed, the
government has not consulted on childminder agencies and allowed evidence to
shape contentious aspects of the proposal. The government plans to consult in 2014
on the Ofsted inspection framework and an agency framework document. However,
these policy documents will be developed once the problematic aspects of the policy
are already cemented in place. To ensure that the childcare registration and quality
support system remains effective and credible, the government should first consult
with the public and professionals before proceeding with the agency proposals.
2. Piloting childminder agencies
The Department for Education has arranged 20 ongoing childminder agency ‘trials’.
As no enabling legislation has been passed, these trials will not encompass the
proposed registration and inspection arrangements for childminder agencies. It
appears doubtful that these trials will therefore provide useful insight into the
concerns raised in this briefing and by others about the quality and cost implications
of the childminder agency model. One simple response to this would be for the
government to use this legislation as the basis for organised pilots.
3. Ensuring reliable, consistent quality judgements and transparent information for
parents
Parents value the simple and transparent assurance that Ofsted quality grades
provide. Childminder agencies would not be obliged to provide quality information on
individual childminders in line with Ofsted standards or the four point Ofsted grading
scale. The draft illustrative regulations for agencies create requirements for agencies
to monitor and report on the quality of childminders, but do not stipulate what
standards agencies should have regard for in conducting that work. Different
agencies might, for example, use a basic pass/fail system or a three star scale. This
means that there is a risk of ineffective quality monitoring and reporting
arrangements. There are two potential steps to mitigate these problems:
8. 8
1). A requirement could be placed on agencies to carry out quality evaluation in
accordance with a framework prepared by Ofsted (Ofsted is preparing a framework
to guide its inspection of childminder agencies, not agencies’ inspection of
childminders). This approach makes sense because Ofsted has the greatest
expertise in quality monitoring and evaluation and could produce a version of the
inspection framework its own staff use to evaluate providers. This approach would
help to ensure consistent and high quality monitoring by agencies and good
information for parents. The powers for Ofsted to impose such a framework are likely
already provided through the Childcare Act.
2). The Childcare Act (sections 50 and 61) requires Ofsted to provide a report on the
quality of care delivered to children after each inspection of a provider. The language
in schedule 4 could be made consistent with the Childcare Act to ensure that when
inspecting an agency Ofsted makes a full judgement on the quality of care its
childminders are delivering, based on the sample of childminders it inspects. An
amendment to meet this aim would extend each of the two parts of Lord Nash’s
schedule 4 amendment (page 6):
including—
(a) the contribution of the early years provision provided by the early years
childminder agency to the well-being of the children for whom it is provided,
(b) the quality and standards of the early years provision provided by the early years
childminder agency, with particular regard to the Early Years Foundation Stage, and
(c) how far the early years provision provided by the early years childminder agency
meets the needs of the range of children for whom it is provided.
Contact details for further information:
Adam Butler
Policy Officer, Family and Childcare Trust
Tel: 020 7940 7531
Email: adam@familyandchildcaretrust.org
Aaron Hunter
Policy and Research Officer, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years
Tel: 020 8290 2478
Email: aaron.hunter@pacey.org.uk