Ali Jones, Registered Childminder

There’s something happening quietly in the UK that should be making every single person stop and pay attention.

We are losing childminders.

Not slowly. Not “a few here and there”.

In England, registered childminders have dropped to around 25,000.
That’s 1,000 fewer in the last year alone.
And the long-term picture is even worse - we’ve gone from around 60,000 childminders in 2009 to under 25,000 today.

That isn’t a “shift in childcare trends.”
That’s a collapse of a whole part of the sector.

And what makes it heartbreaking is this:

Childminders aren’t leaving because they don’t care.
They’re leaving because they’ve been pushed to the edge.

These are the people who:
* provide a genuine home-from-home experience
* offer the flexibility families rely on
* know children inside out (their interests, their triggers, their routines, their confidence levels)
* build bonds that aren’t just “professional” - they’re secure and life-shaping
* support families through the hardest moments, not just the easy ones
* teach, nurture, guide, comfort, protect… and somehow still manage paperwork, admin, learning journeys, safeguarding, training, risk assessments and inspections on top

Childminders don’t do this job for the money.
They do it because they believe in giving children the best start.

So why are they disappearing?

Because the sector is being stretched to breaking point by:
constant change,
more demands,
more accountability,
more financial pressure,
…and honestly? not enough respect.

And while this is happening, it genuinely feels like the direction of travel is: children being “placed” into childcare that looks more like school, from as young as 9 months.

I’m sorry but… 9 months old.

That should make us all pause.

Because childcare isn’t just about getting parents back to work (as important as that is).
It’s about babies and toddlers being cared for in ways that are developmentally appropriate, nurturing, responsive, and safe.

And homebased childcare has always offered something incredibly special - yet it still isn’t valued the way it should be.

Parents choose childminders because they want:
✅ a smaller setting
✅ familiar routines
✅ stability
✅ flexible care
✅ a caregiver who knows their child deeply
✅ an environment that feels like home - not a production line

And yet… the people providing this essential care are being forced out.

Not because they don’t love the job.
But because loving the job is no longer enough to survive it.

If we lose childminders, families lose choice.
Communities lose support.
Children lose a beautiful, nurturing early experience.

And the early years sector, already on its knees loses even more of its foundation.

This matters.
More than most people realise.

A trip to the park with our friends and lots of Christmas sensory play 🎄🌟

A lovely Christmas music and sensory session with Krazy Kangas, loved by all, as usual!

Another wonderful morning spent at Our little village just before Christmas.
4 very happy children making the most of all the space and the lovely toys available!

❤️

Play is the heartbeat of childhood. But behind the laughter and joy, educators carry weights few ever see. On , this poem is for all of you — inspired by the many voices who’ve shared how heavy these pressures feel 🫶🏻…

Beyond the Snapshot 📋

How we long for you to see,
The futures grown with love, so free.
In settings big, in settings small,
We nurture, guide, and give our all.

How we wish you saw the joy,
Shaped by patience, love, and toil.
The endless hours, the years of play,
The care poured in, day after day.

But you arrive and only view,
A fleeting snapshot — an hour or two.
A single moment, a passing glance,
And yet from this, you cast your stance.

How we wish you understood,
The sleepless nights, the endless ‘shoulds’.
The shadow cast, the constant weight,
Of knowing one grade can seal our fate.

You’ll never see the whispered song,
The gentle hand when days feel long.
The battles fought, the fears made small,
The love that underpins it all.

This work is heart, it’s sweat, it’s tears,
It’s hope invested through the years.
And yet reduced, unfairly guessed,
By one short visit, one-day test.

Yes — hold us to account with care,
But meet us with respect that’s fair.
A system shaped to guide, not take,
To honour all that is at stake.

So, together we raise this hopeful plea:
There’s so much more than what you see.
See children thriving, futures bright,
Held in our hands, our hearts, our light.

©️ - Poem by The Young Ones Childminding 🌈

*A poem for the Early Years and Education sector, on the unseen weight of inspection, for those who promote, protect and inspire play — written by Georgina Young (The Young Ones Childminding) ❤️

Coram PACEY

Always nice to tick this one off when its due. 😊 x

A lovely day exploring our oat sensory tray, painting and playing in the garden.
Some gross/fine motor skills practice for our tiniest mindee playing with the flowers and pots, some excellent critical thinking skills and perseverance shown!

We've been very quiet settling in our new little ones these last couple of weeks, and I had some time off too. Little ones have all settled in amazingly well!
We've sent 2 off to school and 1 off to nursery, where we wish them so much happiness as they play, learn and grow at their new settings. We do miss them ❤️

Yesterday, gymnastics fun.

As a grandma I can tell you, this is so, so true. Let them be little ❤️
Her View From Home

Remember to name your little ones things! So much ends up in lost property and its very expensive to keep replacing things!

Large movements are so essential to a child's development, if they can't do these things inside (most don't have the space!) Then making time for them outside is so essential. 😊

A fabulous morning in the woods!