Press release: PACEY polling finds wraparound and breakfast club programmes present further threats to childminder futures with as many as 1 in 5 losing business. 

​A new survey of over 1,100 childminders in England has highlighted significant concerns about the exclusion of childminders in government-funded policies for before- and after-school childcare.

Wraparound childcare is an important part of childminder business models, with more than three-quarters of respondents providing wraparound care, the majority offering both before- and after-school hours. 71% of those offering before-school provision provide a breakfast. PACEY is raising concerns about the impact of the exclusion on childminders who are already facing a sharp decline in numbers.

Wraparound childcare programme

The government’s national wraparound childcare programme launched in September 2024, providing grant funding to local authorities in England to help ensure sufficient before- and after-school childcare in their area. 76% of childminders said they are aware of this programme yet only a quarter said they have received direct communication from their local authority about it. While each local authority is required to have a designated wraparound lead, only 8% of childminders said they know who this contact is.

Concerningly, despite extensive lobbying by PACEY and other early years stakeholders to ensure childminders’ eligibility for funding, only 7 childminders (less than 1%) reported receiving any grant funding from their local authority as part of the national wraparound programme.

Free breakfast clubs

The government’s free breakfast club scheme launches in the first 750 schools across England from April 2025 before being rolled out nationally. Schools can deliver this in-house or work in partnership with private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers, including childminders. 81% of childminders said they are aware of this scheme yet only 12% said they have received communication from their local authority in relation to it.

Business impact

PACEY asked childminders about the impact of the national wraparound childcare programme and free breakfast club scheme on their businesses:

• Only 4% of childminders said the schemes would have a positive or very positive impact on their business.
• Over 45% said the schemes would have a negative or very negative impact on their business
• Nearly 20% of childminders said they had lost business as a direct result of the wraparound programme or breakfast club offers, reporting that families have left their services to access cheaper or funded provision at an alternate setting.

Bel, a registered childminder in Waltham Forest said:

“My business has been quieter since the Covid lockdowns, certainly before school for two reasons. Firstly, competition with the school’s new breakfast club but also due to a change in working habits with more people working from home and being able to drop off their children. I have also lost some children to the after-school club. This has reduced my income, and I can see it becoming more the norm. The school setting doesn’t suit everyone – I had an enquiry recently from a reception parent to help out temporarily because their child didn’t like the after-school club.”

Helen Donohoe, PACEY Chief Executive comments:

“Given that numbers of childminders are already plummeting this data is hugely worrying.Despite our success in securing the inclusion of childminders in the guidance on the delivery of the national wraparound and breakfast club programme, the reality on the ground is that they are losing out on a significant scale. It is an example of how unintended consequences hit childminders so badly.

Over three quarters of our members provide wraparound care, and with many struggling to make ends meet with the entitlement funding for 3- and 4-year-olds, the provision of such care should be a favourable business model.  

Urgent intervention is needed because our poll data suggests that will not be the case.

We are therefore continuing to call on the government to take proactive, childminder– focussed action to address the neglect of the profession and turn around the rapid decline. That action needs to be part of a long-term strategy focussed on recruitment and retention of childminders in areas of the country where they can make the biggest difference.”  

NOTES TO EDITOR

PACEY’s survey was carried out between 5 and 17 March 2025 and received 1,137 responses from childminders in England.

The national wraparound childcare programme provides grant funding to local authorities in England to help ensure there is sufficient before and after school childcare in their area. The local authority guidance states childminders’ eligibility to participate in the programme and receive grant funding where applicable. The seven childminders who stated in our survey that they have received grant funding as part of the national wraparound programme are located in: Cambridgeshire; Dorset; Poole; Redbridge; Shropshire; Southampton; Surrey.

The free breakfast club scheme is being piloted in 750 ‘early adopter’ schools in England from April 2025 before being rolled out nationally. The guidance states that schools may deliver this in-house or work in partnership with existing PVI providers, including childminders.

 ABOUT PACEY

PACEY is the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years. Formed in 1977, we are a charity dedicated to supporting everyone involved in childcare and early years to provide high quality services, information and advice to children, their families and carers. We want all children to experience high quality childcare and early education, helping them to have a bright future.

PACEY represents over half of registered childminders in England. Our Manifesto for Childminders sets out action we believe is needed to reverse the decline of registered childminders in England.

PACEY’s annual Childminding Week 2025 is taking place on 10-16 May.