Our policy work
Coram PACEY represents its members to policy makers at all levels of government, working to ensure that members’ needs and views are taken into account and ensure children get the best start in life.
From campaigning on ratios and regulations, to responding to government consultations, Coram PACEY works with national and local government in England and Wales to help shape and influence early years policy.
We’re also commissioned by local and national government to provide services to early years professionals, including training for childminders and promoting childcare as a profession. And we offer a specific package of support to local childcare providers through local authorities.
A Manifesto for Childminders (Wales)
Coram PACEY Cymru call for urgent government action to address the drastically continuing decline in childminder numbers in Wales outlining a series of policy recommendations to support the sector.
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) figures show that between March 2018 and September 2025 the number of registered childminders in Wales decreased year on year, with around 807 fewer settings in September 2025 compared to March 2018 (a 37% decrease).
A Manifesto for Childminders (England)
To mark Childminding Week 2024, Coram PACEY unveiled its new Manifesto for Childminders calling for urgent government action to address plummeting childminder numbers ensuring children have the very best start in life.
Childminders are highly skilled and passionate childcare professionals who are sadly facing multiple barriers including rising costs, inadequate funding levels, and a continued lack of recognition within the education sector. Over the years tweaks to policies and the early years system have failed to address the rapid decline.
Please support our manifesto by reading, sharing and continuing to support our work to recruit and retain childminders.
Coram PACEY in England
Coram PACEY’s key mission is to reverse the decline in chilminder numbers. To do this, we are working closely with central government in England to help shape early years policy, offering advice and advocacy on behalf of our members. As well as the Department for Education, we also meet regularly with elected Ministers and representatives of other departments such as Ofsted and HMRC.
To urgently reverse the decline in childminder numbers we are calling for:
- A comprehensive national childminder strategy that includes a recruitment scheme with support from pre-registration all the way through a childminder’s career.
- Childminder funding reforms:
- Removal of the rule that prevents childminders from claiming funding for children related to them, to retain experienced and skilled childminders.
- Urgently increase funding rates for three- and four-year-olds to support viable and sustainable childminder businesses and enable children to remain in childminder settings through their early years and beyond.
- Explore a new approach for childminder funding that better reflects childminder ratios and recognises the unique way they work.
- Reinstate qualification requirements for childminders joining the Early Years Register to increase professionalism and align them with the wider sector
- A national campaign to improve perceptions around childminding, increasing recognition, value and support within the broader education sector.
Coram PACEY is a leading member of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition. The coalition is made up of over 30 organisations across various stakeholder groups including gender, parents, small business, trade unions and children’s charities, and we provide essential intelligence on the delivery of early years services on the ground.
Coram PACEY in Wales
Coram PACEY Cymru works closely with the Welsh Government and others to influence children's futures and represent childcare professionals' views. Our dedicated service in Wales shapes national, regional and local early years policy.
To do this, Coram PACEY Cymru works with members, other childminders and partners across Wales, including local authorities, the Welsh Government and their statutory agencies.
Coram PACEY Cymru:
- is a source of information and expertise to the Welsh Government and its statutory agencies, including the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales
- represents the childcare and early years sector on a national level
- helps the Welsh Government to achieve their outcomes and aims for children and young people, early years and childcare settings, and the childcare and early years workforce
- supports Social Care Wales and Qualifications Wales in their work ensuring that the childcare and early years workforce in Wales is a high standard, and are confident and competent
- works in partnership with four leading childcare organisations in Wales as 'Cwlwm' to support the aim that families across Wales can access affordable, quality childcare.
For more information about Coram PACEY Cymru and our services in Wales, please email paceycymru@pacey.org.uk.
How can I get involved or voice my concerns?
Have you got a concern related to government policy?
Contact Coram PACEY’s policy team. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
- Keep up to date with the latest early years policy news with our policy updates
- Respond to a public consultation, either UK wide, or England or Wales only
- Contact your MP, AM or local councillor by letter, telephone or email. Find out who they are here.
- Contact Coram PACEY’s policy team in England or Wales
Latest News
Keep up to date with everything that's happening in the childcare sector
DfE publishes guidance to help you create and maintain safer sleep environments for babies and young children in your care.
Planning policy and childcare in Wales/Polisi cynllunio a gofal plant yng Nghymru
Early Education Minister writes to sector around safer sleep
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