Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of childminders.

Childminders are an important part of the childcare sector and can often provide a level of flexibility that other providers cannot. To encourage new childminders into the market and to support existing childminders, we have made it easier for them to work outside of the home and play a full role in the 30 hours free childcare entitlement. This includes setting an expectation that they should be paid monthly by councils, offering start-up grants to new childminders delivering the free offer, supporting childminders to improve their business skills and creating new partnerships between childminders and schools.