Childminders are an essential component of the childcare landscape in the UK, providing caring and adaptable home environments that are particularly beneficial for parents with unconventional work schedules.

However, the rapid decline in registered childminders raises the question of whether a new initiative allowing them to operate from schools and community centers—rather than solely from their homes—will succeed.

“I absolutely love it. I thrive on the energy. I appreciate the freedom that comes with children’s learning. I even enjoy the dirty diapers.”

Victoria Cook has dedicated over a decade to her role as a childminder.

“We’re not merely babysitters; we are educators, caregivers, and integral members of our communities,” she stated.

“If we disappear, families will lose much more than just childcare; they will lose their options.”

Recently, Victoria has transitioned her childminding business from her home to a school in Pimlico, which shuttered due to a decline in student enrollment—an issue increasingly affecting central London.

“It’s truly refreshing to work in this new environment rather than at home,” she remarked.

“The opportunities here are abundant; we have a larger space, allowing us to engage in a variety of activities.

“I have the flexibility to hire more staff and improve the child-to-carer ratio,” she noted.

This new flexibility emerges amid a significant drop in the number of active childminders.

As reported by Ofsted, there were around 38,000 registered childminders in 2020, but by 2023, that figure had plunged by 26%, with an additional 5% decrease noted in the last year. If this trend persists, there are fears that the profession could vanish altogether by 2033.

Factors contributing to this exodus include rising expenses, regulatory demands, and the solitude of solo work. Many childminders also mention inadequate recognition and low compensation as significant barriers.

The situation is particularly challenging in London, where many childminders find themselves unable to afford appropriately sized homes and face extra hurdles in convincing landlords to permit childminding activities in rented properties.

Despite these challenges, childminders are integral to the UK’s childcare system, delivering adaptable, home-based care that is often ideal for parents with non-standard working hours. They are recognized for fostering nurturing, individualized environments that facilitate early development.

Rebeka Fisher and Laura Thoeling are aiming to reverse the downward trend after successfully establishing a childminding facility within a church in Essex, alongside another nanny.

“We are thrilled to take advantage of this new rule because we are passionate about working with children, and there is certainly a growing demand for our services,” they shared.

“We are transitioning from our roles as nannies to establishing our own childminding business because we believe that a community truly collaborates to raise a child, and we aim to create a safe, supportive environment for both children and parents.”

However, they noted that securing a suitable location has been challenging, and they emphasized the need for more support to encourage others to enter the childminding field.

“Finding an appropriate property has been incredibly difficult—we faced rejections from nearly 50 locations, and it took us almost a year to finalize a space.

“It would be wonderful if there were additional resources available to assist in finding suitable premises or if more landlords would be willing to accommodate childminders.”

Tiney, an agency that supports 1,300 childminders caring for over 8,000 children across the UK, believes that this change in regulations could open the doors for a new wave of talent.

“Many individuals who would excel as educators, often with experience in early childhood care, were unable to become childminders due to their housing situations,” remarked spokesperson Sarah Silver.

Future Academies, which oversees 11 schools in London and the South East, has teamed up with Victoria and others to better utilize underused school facilities.

“Numerous schools are currently experiencing low enrollment,” said the organization’s chief executive, Lawrence Foley.

“This presents a straightforward solution to make productive use of that space. It requires more initiative from central government, as well as some boldness from schools and trusts.”

For numerous families, especially in London—the region with the highest childcare costs in the UK—this transition is a positive one.

“Childminders seem to be quite scarce these days,” remarked Rob, whose daughter is cared for by a childminder.

“We’ve always preferred a childminder due to the personalized attention.”

David, another parent, praised the warmth and familiarity of the new environment provided by his childminder: “It feels like an extension of our home.

“With a childminder, you truly become part of the family. The door is always open.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Education stated, “Childminders offer flexible, high-quality care that families greatly appreciate, and we recognize the many challenges they face.

“As part of our Plan for Change, we are supporting the sector with over £8 billion in funding this year, which includes increasing rates while expanding school-based nurseries and Best Start Family Hubs, as well as a significant growth in the workforce.

“Childminders can flexibly utilize funding across the children they care for, rather than being limited to one age group, and many could benefit from a rising demand for their services.”