I think you answer your own point there: how do other professionals see us - we struggle to be seen as equals now
Being regulated by Ofsted doesn't do a very good job then does it?
For those of us who remember the introduction of Ofsted regulating childminders I wonder how many of us could hand on heart say it lifted the profile of childminding. Even the introduction of EYFS hasn't really done that, as you point out yourself (heck some of us struggle with being seen as equals right now).
All I am saying is, don't assume an alternative will necessarily be bad for us. As long as it was run properly it could be beneficial - inspections by people who understand childminding, rules & regulations that specifically relate to childminding, not those that are really aimed at nursery settings, but which they try to tweek to fit childminders, training specifically aimed at childminding etc etc. And there's nothing to say parents could only use tax credits if we are registered with Ofsted. There's no reason why rules couldn't allow for parents to claim it if we were registered with a dedicted childminding body.
I'm keeping an open mind on where things might go. I want us to stay registered, regulated, inspected individually and able to accept tax credits, NEF & childcare vouchers, but other than that I'm not desperate to stay under Ofsted's control
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