BLOG: The value of home-based childcare

The aim of this blog is to highlight some of the many benefits of home-based childcare provision in our communities, and why, supporting them alongside other providers in the market is important to ensure early years provision has the best interests of the child in mind.

Children and adults sat around a table

We have seen a renewed emphasis on the importance of childcare from the Government's at both ends of the M4. This is vitally important for the sector, as Government policy is beginning to recognise the value of good quality early years provision in supporting and benefitting children from a wide range of backgrounds.

The result of this renewed emphasis on childcare has resulted in an increased focus on childcare and, particularly (in England), a focus on public-sector childcare provision.[1] We are excited to see childcare and early years funding begin to take more of a centre stage of Government policy across the UK.

In Wales there has been a sustained decline in the number of home-based childcare providers (childminders) which has accelerated since the pandemic. Data shows that the decline has been 23%; a loss of over 500 home-based childcare providers between 2018 and 2022 – and the decline is continuing. [2]  

With the UK media focusing on the policy of using capacity in schools to address childcare availability it means that private providers including home-based childcare providers feel left behind, undervalued and forgotten.

Whilst childcare policy in Wales is different, the volume of media from England and the UK swamps Welsh messaging and this, in turn, impacts parental perspectives and decision making.

The first advantage of home-based private childcare is, put simply, there are more options for childcare available for parents to access. The term 'childcare desert' [1] is applied to an area where there is a lack of licensed childcare available to access. In simple terms, home-based childcare can operate where a full-day care provider cannot.

If there are less children in a locality, having a smaller and more locally available option is important in the ecosystem of care that parents might require. In both Japan and England, home-based childcare was shown to be important in contributing to the wider childcare ecosystem by providing personalised flexible childcare provision, where children were observed to engage in a rich mix of learning activities and routines with their caregivers that were tailored to the children's interests and needs.[2]

Inevitably, larger scale providers need more space, staff and children on a daily basis to sustain their service. What has been consistently evident in Wales since 2020 is the decline in home-based services is matched by a growth in full day care provision.

Whilst parental choice and market -forces are important factors there is still inequity in the services that can be offered by home-based childcare. Where inequity exists, this limits the government funding providers can access across the 22 local authorities in Wales. This inequity is almost certainly a factor, particularly when parental budgets have been pressurised for the last 24 months with parents making decisions based on availability of funded hours.

an adult with two children with an wooden abacus


 – why do parents like home-based childcare?

Parental choice is a key feature of childcare decision making in Wales. The mixed provision of service allows parents to consider their child's needs and arrange childcare based on the environment they want their child to experience. 

'Home-based childcare provides children and their families with a home-from-home childcare environment, which for the parents enables them to build up a friendly rapport with their child's caregiver, and the process of walking into someone's home, instantly puts you at ease, making the parent as well as the child feel comfortable.'[1]

For some parents, the idea of a smaller and more homely provision is the appeal of home-based childcare, "I like it that there is only a small group of children. I find that it's more one-to-one compared with in a nursery or other childcare facility.", "My childminder is absolutely amazing. [child] loves going there. It's like he's just going to a friend's house. That's how he sees it. He doesn't see it as going to a nursery." [2] (Pg45)

It is clear, that for some parents, a choice to have childcare provided in a more homely environment is the choice they are looking for. There are, of course, other factors and our rural and valley communities means that for many parents' childcare providers on accessible commuter routes are a preference as part of the support they require for their busy work and family life.

- Families and Professionalism

A distinctive feature of home-based childcare is the close and supportive relationships between caregivers and the children and their families. Various researchers have found that parents (as well as children) benefit from the relationship they develop with their home-based childcare professional.

However, the research nonetheless suggests a hallmark of homebased caregivers' role is 'the support relationship that they establish with parents and families, and the valuable role they play beyond just childcare.'[1]

As outlined, in the UK, the number of home-based providers is facing an ongoing decline, with high turnover rates, reinforced by characteristics such as low pay, a lack of status and recognition, and limited job mobility.

However, home-based childcare is a professionally provided service. All home-based childcare providers are registered with Care Inspectorate Wales [2], undertake substantial pre-registration and ongoing training[3] and work within the legal framework of the National Minium Standards for Regulated Childcare in Wales[4]. Any perception that home-based childcare is 'babysitting' is misgiven.

Home-based childcare is a valuable part of the childcare system in Wales. As the Welsh Government and Ministers consider the future for the childcare sector, they would be remiss to ignore the decline of a service that has been an essential part of the system for many families.

The 2023 Childminding review highlighted the challenges and recommendations, and work is underway to address these within the Welsh Government. We would hope this might address the most impactful and long-term solutions and in time reset the decline to see some growth in this area of childcare.

As a supporting partner to PACEY Cymru, who lead on home-based childcare in Wales under the Cwlwm partnership, Early Years Wales are supporting the progress of these activities.

Whilst we recognise that all public funding is stretched, our next blog will evidence why investing into childcare and children's services is one of the most robust ways to support children and families, and why failing to invest in this area does nothing to save the costs to society from the public purse. Part of this investment must help sustain the mixed-market economy of childcare provision in Wales. To do this successfully includes reversing the decline in home-based childcare providers.

Blog by David Goodger, CEO and Leo Holmes, Head of Policy and Advocacy