Pacey's briefing to LAs about agencies

[Simona]

Having issued briefing to cms pacey produced one for agencies:

After the third reading of the Children & Families Bill in the House of Commons, it has become apparent that, despite concerns from the childcare sector and parents, the Government intends to press ahead with plans to pilot childminder agencies. Childcare minister Elizabeth Truss has said that she has been approached by 60 organisations who are interested in participating in the pilot scheme, which can include private companies, community interest groups, charities, individuals and local authorities.

The Government has suggested that local authorities would be well placed to develop the agency model. We know from our work with them that many are very much opposed to this, but in order to ensure that all local authorities are aware of the risks PACEY has produced a local authority briefing which has been distributed to Early Years decision makers and elected members in each Local Authority in England, outlining why we believe childminder agencies are not viable.

We'd like to encourage you all to read the briefings, and to ensure that their local authority is aware of the childcare sector's concerns about local authorities acting as childminder agencies.

We are also asking members to let us know if their local authority has told them they are planning to participate in the pilot scheme, by emailing agency.monitor@**************''

To see the actual briefing you need to go to pacey local News section

[sarah707]

Thank you for sharing Simona. Sadly I am unable to view anything on that website as I am not a member but I hope they have acted in the best interests of childminders who wish to stay independent.