Children, families and wellbeing minister Claire Coutinho has called on housing associations, developers and landlords to allow childminders to work in their rented properties, in a bid to boost childminder numbers.
Coutinho is urging the housing sector to support childminders by allowing them to operate their business in rented properties, noting that one in eight childminders are being prevented from working in their homes.
“By allowing a childminder to work from your property, you are not only giving them the opportunity to run a successful business, but you are also improving the life chances of families who use their service,” she said in a letter to housing associations, home builders and landlords.
It calls on housing association members and individual landlords not to turn away prospective childminders, and asks freeholders and home builders to consider the importance of early education and childcare when drafting leases on their properties.
