Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reduced availability of mixed age childminding provision on parents with more than one child.

Childminders are an essential part of the early education and childcare system, providing flexible, high-quality and affordable provision. The department is working with the sector to expand the number of childminders and make it easier to operate, including through increased funding rates and flexibilities to work, with more time working from non-domestic premises.

The department recognises concerns raised by the sector regarding wellbeing and we know there is still more to be done. We know that children thrive when they are cared for by confident, well-trained educators. This means attracting, training and keeping great staff, as well as making sure they are valued and supported throughout their careers, with more support from day one. The department has also introduced measures intended to support the childminding sector and increase childcare availability, including regulatory flexibilities and other reforms aimed at making childminding more attractive and sustainable.

Childminders can provide care for children over five years old, requiring registration on the General Childcare Register (GCR). For providers who are solely registered on the GCR, Ofsted inspections are a compliance check to make sure providers are meeting the ongoing requirements for registration. These inspections are unlike other Ofsted inspections, which focus on quality and standards of provision. Inspectors check at inspection that a provider complies with the requirements of registration.

The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. Ofsted is an independent non-ministerial government department and holds responsibility for inspection and operational impact as the regulator for early years provision.