Responsibility for registering childminders was moved to the new social services departments. At about the same time, Brian Jackson, a well known educationalist, began a research study into the incidence of illegal childminding in two northern cities. Publicity surrounding this study pointed out a large number of children being cared for in very poor circumstances; childminders receiving very little pay; low educational levels and poor support from local authorities. He recommended a "Childminders' Charter" together with much better pay and conditions and a wider recognition of their important role in society.

Jackson went on to create an educational trust and initiated three National Childminding Conferences, held in Bradford, at which childminders and local authority workers from all over the country met for the first time.

The BBC was producing a programme called Other People's Children which invited childminders to say what they would like from a national association. By November that year, the first copy of the National Childminding Association membership magazine, Who Minds? was published and the inaugural meeting arranged.

The association recognised that many nannies were experiencing the same challenges as childminders had in the 1970s and that it could use its experience to provide membership support to nannies and well as childminders. NCMA launched its first dedicated nanny membership package in 2004.

With the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage in England in 2008, a single registration and inspection framework was established for all registered childcare settings. Over time the association began to see the training and support it delivered to childminders becoming relevant to individuals in group settings too.

The association’s Board identified a support and knowledge gap for individuals working in nurseries and pre-schools, especially those in the early stages of their childcare career who shared common challenges and concerns with childminders and nannies. NCMA worked to develop a membership package to support them. In doing so, the Association would be able to work towards becoming a standard setting professional association for everyone in childcare and early years, ensuring it had a stronger voice for all its members. As part of this change, NCMA decided to change its name, to better recognise its membership included childminders, nannies and nursery workers and to grow recognition of the professionalism of all its members.

After further consultation, NCMA company members agreed to change its name to the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, in October 2012 and officially launched in Spring 2013. A name that reflects member feedback that they wanted professionalism reflected in the name as well as early years and childcare. The PACEY Cymru brand is created to reflect our presence and work in Wales.

The Cwlwm consortium was founded in Wales between the five leading childcare organisations including PACEY Cymru. The work of the consortium is still going strong today and funding through Welsh Government ensures that families across Wales can access affordable, quality childcare.

PACEY Cymru achieved City and Guilds Centre Approval to deliver qualifications in Wales for those working in home-based childcare impacting positively on the provision of quality childcare.

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition was launched with 30 organisations including PACEY to work together for an early education and childcare sector that delivers for our children, for parents, and for the economy. PACEY’s Chief Executive Helen Donohoe serves as the Vice Chair.

PACEY transferred into the Coram Group in May 2025 as Coram PACEY.

Coram PACEY is proud to be supporting nearly 14,000 members who provide care and education to around 100,000 children and their families. Our goal of ensuring all children receive high quality childcare and education remains. We work with government groups, inspectorates and local authorities and we are a proud member of both the Early Education and Childcare Coalition and the Cwlwm consortium.