10/06/2026
Can we talk honestly about childminding for a moment?
Because I'm tired of hearing that childcare providers are charging too much, or that childminders are somehow making a fortune from looking after children.
The reality couldn't be further from the truth.
Being a childminder isn't just playing with children all day.
It's opening your home before most people start work and often finishing long after they've gone home.
It's providing a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn, explore, grow in confidence, make friends, and feel secure.
It's planning activities, preparing meals, cleaning, risk assessing, completing training, keeping up with regulations, writing observations, tracking development, supporting school readiness, communicating with parents, and being a consistent, trusted adult in a child's life.
It's a profession.
And like any profession, it comes with costs.
Food costs more.
Utilities cost more.
Fuel costs more.
Resources cost more.
Insurance costs more.
Training costs more.
Everything costs more.
Yet somehow childcare providers are expected to absorb these increases year after year while being criticised for charging sustainable fees.
The introduction of funded childcare has helped many families access childcare, which is fantastic.
But what many people don't realise is that "funded" doesn't always mean fully funded.
There is often a significant gap between what it actually costs to deliver quality childcare and what providers receive.
And that gap has to be managed somehow.
Many childminders are not becoming wealthy.
Many are working incredibly long hours, using evenings and weekends to complete paperwork, prepare activities, clean equipment, update learning records, and keep their businesses running.
Some are questioning whether they can afford to stay in the profession at all.
And that's heartbreaking.
Because when a childminder leaves, it's not just a business that disappears.
Families lose flexibility.
Children lose familiar faces and trusted relationships.
Communities lose experienced early years professionals.
Parents lose valuable childcare places.
The biggest concern shouldn't be whether childminders charge for meals, outings, resources, or additional services.
The biggest concern should be why so many dedicated childcare professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to remain in the sector.
I love what I do.
I love watching children learn new skills, build confidence, make friendships, and reach milestones.
I love being part of their journey.
But loving what we do shouldn't mean we're expected to do it at a loss.
Childminders deserve respect.
Childminders deserve recognition.
And childminders deserve to earn a fair living for the vital role they play in supporting children and families every single day.
Because without childminders, many families simply couldn't work.
And that's a conversation worth having.
