Elizabeth Truss MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare

Sanctuary Buildings 20 Great Smith Street Westminster London SW1 P 3BT tel: 0370 000 2288 www.education.gov.uklhelp/contactus

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Dear Ms Neville,

March 2014

Thank you for your open letter to the Department for Education, and for expressing the concerns of your colleagues in the Childminding Forum. I have read your concerns and will make sure I address them in our plans. I am keen to ensure a good dialogue with childminders. I am also working with Ofsted to address some of the concerns on complexity. Our proposals for childminder agencies are not about removing or replacing the independent childminders. We want to see a rise in childminder numbers, both those who choose to be independent and those who operate as part of an agency. We want to create a new option for childminders and parents, where this is needed to provide the high quality provision for children that you rightly say is so important. The Government has already demonstrated its support for childminders by making it easier for childminders to deliver government funded early education places. "'Ie have also removed the requirement that childminders who give food to children have to register separately with their local authority as a food business. This will now happen automatically when childminders register with Ofsted. I will address each of the issues in your letter in turn but some of the issues you raise are the responsibility of Ofsted, which is an independent non-ministerial government department. They will therefore be replying separately on those issues as I gather you have also forwarded them a copy of your letter.

Fees On the level of the fees that the Government sets for registration and inspection with Ofsted, I want to reassure you that, although of course the Government must keep fee levels under review, I am committed to ensuring that they remain affordable for independent childminders. I want to ensure that working as an independent childminder remains an affordable option for those that choose that route. Support Overall funding for early intervention and childcare will increase to over 4.6bn by 2014-15, up from 4.3bn in 2011-12. Local authorities themselves decide how best to use this funding to fulfil their statutory duties and provide local services. This includes how best to support childminders and other childcare providers. - Many local auttrortties run excellent childminder networks but we estimate-that only 10% of childminders are part of such a network. The Government therefore recently removed the requirement for a childminder to be. part of a childminder network in order to access early education funding, because we felt that this was unfair and unnecessarily restrictive. We want to help childminders in accessing a range of support and training, and we believe they should be able to decide what works best for them. In the future, support will be available from a variety of sources which may include the local authority, a local childminder agency where this exists, as well as other professional bodies and training providers. Qualifications We have no plans to place higher qualification expectations on independent childminders but Ofsted will look at qualifications and outcomes for children and monitor these as part of their inspections. Competition and parents Since 1st September last year, all childminders rated 'good' and 'outstanding' by Ofsted are able to offer early education places for two-, three- and four- yearolds, if they wish to do so. Previously, fewer than 10% of childminders accessed government funding for early education places, and different rules applied in different areas. As with other early years providers, childminders are able to charge for any additional hours they provide. It is not government policy to promote one type of provision over another. Our starting point is what is best for children and their parents. We want to see a healthy and thriving childcare market, but in too many cases parents' options are limited because of availability or cost. Government policy is not about a prescriptive, one size fits all approach. We are clear that we want families to have a choice of high quality, affordable, flexible childcare that suits them whether it be in a school or with a childminder either independently registered or with an agency.

We are working with around 50 schools on a demonstration project to gather best practice on the delivering early education for two year olds. We will share this learning so that schools that choose to offer this provision in response to demand from their parents can offer children a high quality care and learning experience. If parents prefer this form of care for their children then they should be able to access it. We know of some schools that are actively working with childminders as a way to develop their early years offers. Schools are free to do this; working with and through partners as a way to make a flexible and affordable offer to parents. Reassurance about the future Again I can reassure you on your concerns about whether those parents who choose to use independent childminders will be able to continue to use their childcare vouchers, tax credits or funded early education sessions- to nelp-pay for places. We have no plans to change this position and, indeed, we are keen to see even more childminders offering provision such as funded early education sessions. I hope this letter is helpful to offer clarity on the issues you raise. I have also recently written to all registered childminders, to help dispel some of the myths that have developed around childminder agencies and to tell them about how we are supporting childminders generally. The letter has been sent by post to all childminders and can be accessed electronically here: https:llwww.gov.uk/governmentlpublications/letter-to-childminders-in-englandfrom-elizabeth-truss. You and your colleagues across the country playa vital role in offering high quality childcare to children. I wish you all the best of success in this highly valued profession. With best wishes,

Elizabeth Truss MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare