The Childminding Study: Examining the Challenges and Benefits of Childminding in England

This project explores the benefits and challenges of working as a childminder and parental attitudes towards using a childminder for their children.

About the study

The Nuffield Foundation have funded the UCL Institute of Education and the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to explore the benefits and challenges of childminding in England.

Childminding is under-researched compared with other forms of childcare provision. Understanding what is currently happening with childminders is essential for understanding the benefits of childminding relative to other early years provision.

Steep declines in the number of childminders nationwide are concerning. The number of childminders in England is down from 36,500 in 2018 to 22,300 in 2025 (Department for Education, 2025).

Our research is the first comprehensive study of childminders, using a nationally representative survey of childminders in England. The study directly addresses the deepening staffing crisis and capacity concerns of the early years sector. Our goal is to address important questions about the availability of childminding services and to support better retention, recruitment, and working conditions for childminders.

What will taking part involve?

This study runs from May 2025 to February 2027. This study involves:

  1. A rapid evidence assessment of the impacts of childminding on children’s development and attainment, compared to other types of early years provision.
  2. A nationally representative survey of childminders in England.
  3. Interviews with 50 of the childminders who completed the childminder survey.
  4. Interviews with 30 parents, including those using childminders and those using other types of childcare provision.

Participation in this study is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.

Childminder survey

NatCen will be surveying childminders across England who have been specially selected to take part in the survey. This survey can be completed online or over the phone and will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. This research will help us understand what working as a childminder is like, what challenges you face, and what you enjoy and do not enjoy about your job. The survey will take place from February to April 2026.

Interviews with childminders

At the end of the survey, you will be asked whether you would like to be contacted to take part in a telephone or online interview so we can hear your experiences and opinions in your own words. With permission, your contact details will be shared with the UCL research team so they can contact you about taking part in an interview. The interviews will take place in Spring 2026.

Interviews with parents

NatCen will carry out 30 interviews with parents who use and do not use a childminder to explore parental views and the use of childminding services. These will last for about 45 minutes and can be completed online using Microsoft Teams or by telephone. 

Parents will be recruited with assistance from Criteria (a recruitment agency). The interviews will take place in Spring 2026.

What will happen to any information I give?

Personal data collected as part of this study will only be used for research purposes. No individual participants will be identified in any report arising from this research. All information will be treated confidentially, and all interview and survey responses will be anonymised before being analysed.

Participants may withdraw from the study at any time, in which case no further information will be collected from them.

You can find further information about data collection, sharing and storing, and withdrawing from the study in the privacy notice.

Who is carrying out the research?

This study is being carried out by the UCL Institute of Education and the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the Nuffield Foundation.

You can access the study webpage on the Nuffield Foundation website here, and the UCL study webpage here.

This study has received approval from both the NatCen’s Research Ethics Committee (reference: P18849, date of approval 14 March 2025) and the UCL Social Research Institute Research Ethics Committee (study data protection number: Z6364106/2025/06/07; date of approval: 22 June 2025).

Contact us

If you have any queries about this study, don't hesitate to get in touch with the research team at childmindingstudy@natcen.ac.uk or on 0800 652 9295.

Privacy notice

You can read the privacy notice for the study here.