Retaining childminders

What can you do to retain existing childminders?

There are many things that will help existing childminders to manage periods with vacancies, feel valued, and want to continue in their role as a childminder:

Business Support

Provide access to training and advice on marketing vacancies, working with parents, being customer centred, managing finances, etc. For more information see the Business Support section.

Childminder networks

Childminder networks can help aid retention and improve the status of childminding. You should identify the best type of networks for your area and work towards a point where every childminder has the option of being part of one.

Children's centres will be with working with local childminders and supporting good quality childminder networks to help increase the quality and availability of childminding as well as to improve retention.

Again, work with your local childminders association and/or the NCMA to see what more can be done to help meet your childminders' needs — recognising that the work can often be isolating.

Sustainability Grant

We are providing local authorities with greater freedom in their use of the Sustainability Grant in terms of how it can be used to retain existing childminders.

Ensure that all childminders in disadvantaged areas are aware of the Sustainability Grant and that the process for applying is clear and manageable.

In this section: