Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years

PACEY was founded, as the National Childminding Association (NCMA), in 1977 by a small group of registered childminders, local authority staff and parents. Originally the Association covered the UK, but the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) [http://www.childminding.org/] and the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA) [http://www.nicma.org/cms/index.php] now support childminding in Scotland and Northern Ireland. NCMA changed its name to Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years in March 2013, to reflect the broadening of its membership to include nursery workers as well as childminders and nannies and the growing recognition of its members' professionalism.

PACEY's president, since March 2013, is childcare expert and author Penny Tassoni. The chair, since November 2020, is Dr Amy Page. The chief executive is Helen Donohoe, who succeeded Liz Bayram in January 2023.{{Cite magazine |last=Dunkley |first=India |date=31 January 2023 |title=Liz Bayram to step down as CEO of PACEY |url=https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/liz-bayram-to-step-down-as-ceo-of-pacey |magazine=Nursery World |access-date=16 February 2023 |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216211810/https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/liz-bayram-to-step-down-as-ceo-of-pacey |url-status=live }}

PACEY's head office is in Bromley, Kent. It also has an office in Cardiff, Wales.{{cite web | url=https://www.pacey.org.uk/partnerships/pacey-in-wales/ | title=PACEY in Wales | publisher=PACEY | accessdate=18 June 2017 | archive-date=19 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419044853/https://www.pacey.org.uk/partnerships/pacey-in-wales/ | url-status=live }}

Registered childminders care for one or more children under the age of eight for more than a total of two hours a day, usually in the childminder's home, for payment. They are usually self-employed and are inspected by Ofsted in England [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/]{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/ofsted-inspection-childcare-provider|title=Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider|publisher=Ofsted|accessdate=18 June 2017|archive-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724072534/https://www.gov.uk/ofsted-inspection-childcare-provider|url-status=live}} or the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) [http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/?lang=en]{{cite web|url=http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/?lang=en|title=Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales|publisher=CSSIW|accessdate=3 May 2011|archive-date=15 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515043731/http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/?lang=en|url-status=dead}} to ensure they are providing a safe and stimulating environment for these children.

Unlike registered childminders, nannies are employed by parents and work in the family home. They are not required to register with Ofsted in England or with CSSIW in Wales. However, to reassure parents that they have had an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check, first-aid and basic childcare training, nannies can join the voluntary Ofsted register or CSSIW's Voluntary Approval Scheme.{{cite web|url=http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/aboutus/providingsocialcare/cmreg/form/?lang=en|title=Voluntary Approval Scheme|publisher=CSSIW|accessdate=3 May 2011|archive-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330110118/http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/aboutus/providingsocialcare/cmreg/form/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}

At its 2005 annual conference, the organisation's then-President, British childcare expert Dr Penelope Leach, outlined details of the findings of the longest and most detailed studies of UK childcare, which concluded that young children who are looked after by their mothers do significantly better in developmental tests than those cared for in nurseries, by childminders or relatives. It found babies and toddlers fared worst when they were given group nursery care. Those cared for by friends or grandparents or other relatives did a little better while those looked after by nannies or childminders were rated second only to those cared for by mothers. The study, by researchers led by Leach and colleagues Kathy Sylva and Alan Stein, began in 1998 and involved 1,200 children and their families from north London and Oxfordshire. Mothers were interviewed when their babies were three months old and again when they were 10, 18, 36 and 51 months.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/oct/02/childrensservices.familyandrelationships|title=Official: babies do best with mother|newspaper=The Observer|date=2 October 2006|accessdate=16 March 2011|location=London|author=Roberts, Yvonne|author-link=Yvonne Roberts|archive-date=20 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920022825/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/oct/02/childrensservices.familyandrelationships|url-status=live}}

In March 2013, PACEY's report Childcare – not just a job, a vocation, based on research carried out in association with Nursery World magazine and NannyTax,{{cite web | url=http://local.pacey.org.uk/news/b/news/archive/2013/03/17/childcare-not-just-a-job-a-vocation.aspx | title=Childcare – not just a job, a vocation | publisher=PACEY | work=PACEY Local | date=17 March 2013 | accessdate=22 March 2013 | author=Hinchmore, Jon | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325113913/http://local.pacey.org.uk/news/b/news/archive/2013/03/17/childcare-not-just-a-job-a-vocation.aspx | archive-date=25 March 2013 | url-status=dead }} found that low pay and poor status are concerns across the childcare profession – among childminders, nursery workers and nannies. In spite of this, the study found that for every £1 childcare workers are paid, they generate between £7 and £9.50 worth of benefits to society.{{cite web | url=http://local.pacey.org.uk/conversation/ask/in-politics/f/382/t/2524.aspx | title=Low pay and poor status are shared concerns for childminders, nannies and nursery workers | publisher=PACEY | work=PACEY Local | date=18 March 2013 | accessdate=22 March 2013 | author=Hinchmore, Jon | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130423200057/http://local.pacey.org.uk/conversation/ask/in-politics/f/382/t/2524.aspx | archive-date=23 April 2013 | url-status=dead }}

In September 2013, a survey by PACEY of more than 2,000 UK childcare workers, parents and teachers found that social skills and independence were rated more highly than key academic skills as indicators of young children's readiness to start school.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24302481 | title=Social skills 'key to good start at school' | publisher=BBC News | date=28 September 2013 | accessdate=8 October 2013 | author=Hannah Richardson | archive-date=5 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005222507/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24302481 | url-status=live }}

In 2001, the Association campaigned for a reversal of new government regulations which allowed childminders to smack babies and toddlers and to smoke in the presence of children with parents' consent.{{cite news|url= http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/New-rules-that-say-smacking-is-okay-337392/|title= New rules that say smacking is okay|work= TES|date= 11 May 2008|access-date= 6 May 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150102063408/https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/New-rules-that-say-smacking-is-okay-337392/|archive-date= 2 January 2015|url-status= dead}}{{cite news|url= http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/726981/Hodge-replies-smoking-question/|title= Hodge replies to smoking question|author= Mercer, Alison|work= Nursery World|date= 8 March 2001|access-date= 6 May 2012|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130505031708/http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/726981/Hodge-replies-smoking-question/|archive-date= 5 May 2013|url-status= dead}}

In April 2012, it launched a campaign, Individual Inspection Matters, calling on the Government to retain individual registration and inspection of childminders in England. The campaign was launched in response to concerns that the Government is planning to take childminding out of the current inspection and regulation system and that this could lead to deregulation or regulation with a "lighter touch".{{cite news|url=http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1130256/Campaign-stop-childminder-deregulation/|title=Campaign to stop childminder deregulation|author=Gaunt, Catherine|work=Nursery World|date=3 May 2012|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711235648/http://nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1130256/Campaign-stop-childminder-deregulation/|archive-date=11 July 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/may/15/childminders-warn-against-lighter-regulation|title=Childminders warn against 'lighter touch' regulation|author=Moorhead, Joanna|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 May 2012|accessdate=21 May 2012|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102064300/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/may/15/childminders-warn-against-lighter-regulation|url-status=live}} It expressed concern that stepping away from individual Ofsted inspection threatened childminders' professional status.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2012/jun/06/get-ahead-in-childminding?newsfeed=true|title=How to get ahead in ... childminding|author=Andalo, Debbie|work=The Guardian|date=6 June 2012|accessdate=12 June 2012|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102064322/http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2012/jun/06/get-ahead-in-childminding?newsfeed=true|url-status=live}}

In March 2013, Catherine Farrell, PACEY's then joint chief executive, criticised government plans to increase the number of children that childcare providers can look after in England and to introduce childminder agencies as being "likely to reduce quality for children".{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21876719 | title=Nursery ratio plans criticised by government adviser | publisher=BBC News | date=22 March 2013 | access-date=22 March 2013 | author=Richardson, Hannah | archive-date=22 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322014345/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21876719 | url-status=live }}

PACEY's magazine, The Childcare Professional, is published every two months.

Members have access to helplines and support services.{{cite web | url=https://www.pacey.org.uk/membership/advice/| title=Advice | publisher=PACEY | access-date=3 April 2024 }}

• Scottish Childminding Association
• Northern Ireland Childminding Association
• Child care
• Early childhood education
• Child development
• Nanny (Childminder redirects there)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.pacey.org.uk/ Official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120324074942/http://www.imama.tv/watch-video-3067-the-ncma-about-childminders.html Choosing a childminder] – a film produced by the National Childminding Association: what parents think about using a registered childminder and information on the services childminders can provide
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120201055304/http://www.whichregister.org.uk/home Childcare registration – which register should I be on?] – Childcare Registration Wizard, published by 4Children

Category:1977 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Charities based in London

Category:Child care skills organizations

Category:Children's charities based in England

Category:Early childhood education in the United Kingdom

Category:Early childhood educational organizations

Category:Organizations established in 1977

Category:Professional associations based in the United Kingdom

Category:Standards organisations in the United Kingdom