By Angela Gamble, Education and Training Manager – Coram PACEY
When Monira first became a childminder more than a decade ago, she never imagined how deeply the role would reshape her identity, her confidence, and her understanding of what children truly need. Today, she is one of London’s most passionate advocates for homebased childcare––but her journey began with hesitation, uncertainty, and even embarrassment about the title “childminder.”
Now, Monira speaks proudly about the profession she once kept quiet. Her story challenges stereotypes, celebrates the professionalism of homebased educators, and reminds us why childminding is far more than simply “minding” children. It is high-quality education, emotional labour, partnership with families, and the foundation that enables society to function.
I had the pleasure of talking to Monira about her provision, practice and passion and she shared a glimpse into her work on the panel discussion at our conference. Here is more of what I learned about Monira.
From investment banking to early educator
Before entering early years, Monira worked in investment banking––a high-pressure world far removed from the rhythm of nursery rhymes and muddy play. The shift came when she had her own children. Her eldest attended a nursery fulltime; her younger child attended a childminder. Watching the difference in their early experiences, and how secure and confident her youngest became, planted the first seeds of change.
Initially, Monira hesitated to tell people she was a childminder. “I was embarrassed at first,” she admits. “People just didn’t understand the role. They thought it meant staying at home and keeping children occupied. They had no idea what we actually do.”
Over time, her perspective shifted. She realised that childminding wasn’t a “lesser option” ––it was a highly skilled profession requiring emotional intelligence, safeguarding knowledge, curriculum planning, and complete responsibility for young children’s wellbeing. And unlike her previous job, this work truly mattered to her.
“We are everything in one” — the hidden workload of childminding. Monira speaks passionately about how misunderstood the profession remains. Most people have no idea that she and other childminders act simultaneously as educator, carer, cook, cleaner, administrator, accountant, safeguarding lead, manager, family support worker and for her employer too. In her words: “We are the manager, the CEO, the director, the early educator — all at once. If something goes wrong, it’s on us. Parents entrust their children to us.” Even working with assistants, the buck stops with the childminder.
She describes days so full that she doesn’t start cooking for her own family until 6pm. Every minute of the day is dedicated to children’s learning, routines, safety, outdoor play, parent communication, emotional support, cleaning, paperwork, and planning.
This, she believes, is the myth that most urgently needs busting: childminders are professionals — highly trained, deeply skilled, and wholly invested in the children they care for.
When family isn’t nearby, childminders become family
Living and working in London, Monira has noticed a profound cultural shift: many families no longer have grandparents, aunts, uncles, or relatives nearby. New parents often feel isolated — and safe, trusted adults are scarce. That’s where childminders step in. “Parents don’t just rely on us for childcare,” Monira explains. “They rely on us emotionally. We become part of their family — and they become part of ours.”
She sees this every day, as parents confide in her about sleep struggles, feeding worries, routines, and behaviour; families follow her professional guidance because they trust her experience; and she supports them through challenges with evidence based strategies and reassurance. She often jokes that childminders should be called “parent minders” too.
In these moments, the true community role of homebased childcare becomes clear: it fills the gaps where modern family life can’t.
Why small, warm, consistent care matters
Monira has observed firsthand the emotional differences between homebased and larger group care. She believes smaller settings provide an irreplaceable emotional foundation for children’s wellbeing. Children in nurseries — especially the quiet, compliant ones — can go “under the radar.” In a home setting, this simply doesn’t happen. Every child receives cuddles, warmth, one-to-one attention, deep emotional attunement and swift responses to their needs.
Monira speaks with heartfelt honesty about her own children: her eldest, who attended nursery, needed more reassurance and validation; her younger child, who attended a childminder, developed stronger independence and emotional security.
“It might just be their personalities,” she says, “but my heart tells me the early years environment made a difference.”
Beyond childcare: childminding underpins the workforce
Monira believes strongly that childminding is not only educational––it is essential to the national workforce.
Homebased childcare allows parents in demanding jobs (doctors, firefighters, teachers, nurses, and shift workers) to remain employed. Without this flexible, personalised model, many families simply could not work. She argues that society needs to see childminders not as an optional extra, but as a pillar of the economy.
A voice for a profession that deserves respect
Monira is determined to raise the status of the profession and ensure it is recognised as skilled, regulated, emotionally demanding, academically grounded, essential to children’s development and essential to families’ wellbeing. She believes more people would enter the sector if they understood what the work truly involves — and why it matters so deeply.
Her message is clear: “If we’re proud of what we do, the world will start to see it too.”
The heart of Monira’s story
Monira’s story shows that childminding is personal, professional, and transformative; grounded in love and knowledge, and vital for children, families, and the workforce. Her journey from investment banking to early educator is a testament to the power of following your values — and of building a career that changes lives every single day.
Homebased childcare doesn’t just shape childhood; it strengthens families, it supports society and it helps children grow into secure, confident people. And passionate practitioners like Monira are showing the world why it matters more than ever.
