Social landlords urged to allow childminders to work from home

Children and families minister Claire Coutinho has written to housing associations, developers and landlords urging them to provide better support to childminders and allow them to work from their rented properties.

Childminders often face clauses in their contracts which prevent them from working from home.

Coutinho said: "We have outstanding, high quality childminders, offering flexible and accessible childcare in a home-like environment.

"Too often prospective childminders are having the door slammed in their faces because they face a blanket ban on working from home.

"However, parents tell us time and again how much they value the flexibility and quality that childminders bring so we are making sure that we are supporting the workforce to deliver what parents need.

"To do this in the best possible way, we are addressing the challenges childminders face including loneliness, where they work, long registration times and local authority pay timetables. Through our support of the sector, we will deliver the flexible care that parents need.

"Every working parent of three- and four-year-olds is being encouraged to check what they are entitled to for the autumn term so that they are getting the maximum possible support now, and are ready to sign up for the new offers when they roll out early next year."

Image by Esi Grünhagen from Pixabay