06 December 2024

Dear Childminder,

At the National Union of Childminders (NUC), we are committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of childminders across the UK. As part of our ongoing work, we are collecting accounts of childminders’ experiences with regulators (Ofsted/ CIW/ Care Inspectorate). This information will help us build a clearer picture of the challenges faced by our profession and strengthen our efforts to ensure fair treatment and proper support for childminders.

Confidentiality and Consent

Accounts will remain private and confidential unless you provide specific and express permission for it to be shared. If you do give such permission, you can choose whether your account is shared anonymously or with your name attached. To help to protect your rights, we request that you:

Write “Private and Confidential” and “Without Prejudice” at the top of your account.

What We Are Looking For

If you feel comfortable, please provide the following details in your account:

●        What was your experience?

●        How did it make you feel?

●        How did it affect your mental health and well-being?

●        Did you feel bullied? If so, by whom?

●        Did you feel supported? If so, by whom?

●        In what year did this occur?

●        Did it lead to your registration being suspended or cancelled, or other regulator action?

●        Did it lead to you leaving childminding?

●        Did it affect your mental health?

●        Please name any (Ofsted/ CIW/ Care Inspectorate) inspectors or staff involved.

●        Did you make a complaint? If so, to whom?

●        What was the outcome of any complaint?

●        How long had you been a childminder at the time that this occurred?

●        In what region do you live?

How to Submit Your Account

Please send your account to childminders@nucuk.com with the subject line “Ofsted/ CIW/ Care Inspectorate Experience Submission.” Rest assured, your information will only be used in ways that align with the permissions you provide.

Thank you for your time and your courage in sharing your experiences. Your voice is crucial in helping us work toward a more just and supportive system for all childminders.

Warm regards,

Marcia Steele (She/Her)
General Secretary
National Union of Childminders
✉️ childminders@nucuk.com
🌐 www.nucuk.com
x: @NUCchildminders