The childminding sector in Scotland is in crisis with more than a third of carers leaving the profession in the past six years, it has been warned.
The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) said 34% of childminders had quit since funding was increased for early education and childcare in 2016.
By 2026 this figure is expected to have risen to 64%.
The Scottish government said it was working with the SCMA to address the decline in the childminding workforce.
The SCMA said more than 1,900 childminding businesses and 11,000 places had also been lost in the past six years.
Chief executive Graeme McAlister said the losses "cannot be sustained".
