Name change mooted for childminders

Childminders are set to change their name later this year.

The National Childminding Association has asked its members to
vote on a list of alternative names after the association’s
national executive committee questioned whether the word
childminder reflects the professionalised role childminders are
increasingly occupying. Among the proposed alternative names are
“home daycare provider”, “professional childcare
practitioner” and “home childcarer”.

The NCMA says a factor in the move to change title is the media.
“Despite NCMA’s constant campaigning over the past 25
years, journalist and programme makers continue to use
“childminder” as a catch-all term to describe all child
carers including teenage babysitters, au pairs and unqualified
nannies.”

Childminders will choose their new name at the NCMA’s AGM
in November after a shortlist has been drawn through a postal and
email consultation exercise.