BuggsieMoo
01-03-2013, 02:09 PM
Dear Ms Hall
Thank you for your email of 6 February, addressed to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, about the Department's proposed childcare reforms. As I am sure you will appreciate, the minister receives a large amount of correspondence and is unable to reply to each one personally. It is for this reason I have been asked to reply and I apologise for the delay in doing so.
It is really encouraging to hear about the breadth of your experience and qualifications you have achieved. It is always good to hear the views of childminders and other early education practitioners, particularly those as experienced as yourself.
You refer to an article ‘Why agencies will be good for us’. Elizabeth Truss’s article, ‘Why we are introducing childminder agencies’ was published in Nursery World on 5 February. You highlight a number of concerns and questions about Government plans for childminder agencies, which I will address below.
It will not be compulsory for childminders to join agencies. Many existing excellent childminders may wish to continue operating independently and individually registering with Ofsted. For these childminders there need not be any change, and they can continue to operate in the same way as they do now. If childminders join an agency, and later change their mind, they will be able to re-register with a different agency or register independently with Ofsted.
It is planned that agencies will be able to handle fees for childminders who join them and help to match children with childminders. Childminders will of course play a role in this matching process, as we realise it is vitally important that parents, children and childminders are all happy to work together to achieve the best outcomes for the child. Many childminders have told us they do not like chasing fees from parents and it is hoped that an agency system will relieve them of this burden if agencies take on this role.
Exact details of the employment and financial relationship between a childminder and their agency will be defined by the agency itself, and are likely to be contractually agreed between both parties. There is likely to be some variation between agencies, which allows childminders who opt to join an agency to choose one that best suits them. It is likely that some agencies will choose to employ childminders directly (which brings benefits such as paid leave and sick pay) whilst others will prefer for their childminders to remain self-employed (or some may offer both options).
On your questions around funding and inspection, we are working closely with Ofsted to consider how the inspection regime will work for agencies. The issues you raise around inspection and funding and how any transition for existing childminders moving into agencies will be managed, are being considered as part of that work. As you know, the minister has stated that she wants to make it easier for childminders to access free entitlement funding - agencies could play a role in helping with this but childminders who do not join agencies will still be able to access funding.
I note your comments about opposition to agencies and the question around those who agree with plans around agencies. It would be inappropriate for me to give specific details of individuals and organisations who are working with us to develop ideas around agencies. However, I can say that a working group of childcare professionals has been set up, which includes representative organisations and childminder networks, and is considering piloting and requirements for agencies.
We have also received a significant number of enquiries so far from individuals and organisations interested in running agencies, including individual childminders and childminder networks. We have also spoken to hundreds of childminders through a range of meetings and events throughout the last six months. We are now considering how best to further involve individual childminders. If you like to be involved in this work, please email Childminder.AGENCIES@education.gsi.gov.uk with your contact details and we will let you know about any events in your area.
Once again, thank you for writing and I hope the above information is hepful.
Your correspondence has been allocated reference number 2013/0009030. If you need to respond to us, please visit: www.education.gov.uk/contactus and quote your reference number.
As part of our commitment to improving the service we provide to our customers, we are interested in hearing your views and would welcome your comments via our website at: www.education.gov.uk/pcusurvey
Yours sincerely
Barbara Redican
Ministerial and Public Communications Division
Home - Welcome (http://www.education.gov.uk)
Thank you for your email of 6 February, addressed to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, about the Department's proposed childcare reforms. As I am sure you will appreciate, the minister receives a large amount of correspondence and is unable to reply to each one personally. It is for this reason I have been asked to reply and I apologise for the delay in doing so.
It is really encouraging to hear about the breadth of your experience and qualifications you have achieved. It is always good to hear the views of childminders and other early education practitioners, particularly those as experienced as yourself.
You refer to an article ‘Why agencies will be good for us’. Elizabeth Truss’s article, ‘Why we are introducing childminder agencies’ was published in Nursery World on 5 February. You highlight a number of concerns and questions about Government plans for childminder agencies, which I will address below.
It will not be compulsory for childminders to join agencies. Many existing excellent childminders may wish to continue operating independently and individually registering with Ofsted. For these childminders there need not be any change, and they can continue to operate in the same way as they do now. If childminders join an agency, and later change their mind, they will be able to re-register with a different agency or register independently with Ofsted.
It is planned that agencies will be able to handle fees for childminders who join them and help to match children with childminders. Childminders will of course play a role in this matching process, as we realise it is vitally important that parents, children and childminders are all happy to work together to achieve the best outcomes for the child. Many childminders have told us they do not like chasing fees from parents and it is hoped that an agency system will relieve them of this burden if agencies take on this role.
Exact details of the employment and financial relationship between a childminder and their agency will be defined by the agency itself, and are likely to be contractually agreed between both parties. There is likely to be some variation between agencies, which allows childminders who opt to join an agency to choose one that best suits them. It is likely that some agencies will choose to employ childminders directly (which brings benefits such as paid leave and sick pay) whilst others will prefer for their childminders to remain self-employed (or some may offer both options).
On your questions around funding and inspection, we are working closely with Ofsted to consider how the inspection regime will work for agencies. The issues you raise around inspection and funding and how any transition for existing childminders moving into agencies will be managed, are being considered as part of that work. As you know, the minister has stated that she wants to make it easier for childminders to access free entitlement funding - agencies could play a role in helping with this but childminders who do not join agencies will still be able to access funding.
I note your comments about opposition to agencies and the question around those who agree with plans around agencies. It would be inappropriate for me to give specific details of individuals and organisations who are working with us to develop ideas around agencies. However, I can say that a working group of childcare professionals has been set up, which includes representative organisations and childminder networks, and is considering piloting and requirements for agencies.
We have also received a significant number of enquiries so far from individuals and organisations interested in running agencies, including individual childminders and childminder networks. We have also spoken to hundreds of childminders through a range of meetings and events throughout the last six months. We are now considering how best to further involve individual childminders. If you like to be involved in this work, please email Childminder.AGENCIES@education.gsi.gov.uk with your contact details and we will let you know about any events in your area.
Once again, thank you for writing and I hope the above information is hepful.
Your correspondence has been allocated reference number 2013/0009030. If you need to respond to us, please visit: www.education.gov.uk/contactus and quote your reference number.
As part of our commitment to improving the service we provide to our customers, we are interested in hearing your views and would welcome your comments via our website at: www.education.gov.uk/pcusurvey
Yours sincerely
Barbara Redican
Ministerial and Public Communications Division
Home - Welcome (http://www.education.gov.uk)