Action call as city loses a third of childminders in five years
11,800 fewer than in March 2015.
Ofsted says the number of available childcare places has remained relatively stable across England due to an increase in the proportion of places offered in nurseries and daycare.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled an income support scheme for self-employed workers, following calls from early years leaders for the Government to provide support for childminders during the coronavirus crisis.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said the group welcomes the measures.
However, he is “deeply concerned” that childminders will have to wait until June to receive financial support.
He added: “Childminders have mortgages, rents, bills and other expenses to pay right now - how, then, can they be expected to wait until the start of June for any financial support, as the government has indicated?
"With many already questioning whether or not they are able to stay open to key worker families and vulnerable children during this period, it is vital that they receive wage support as soon as possible.
"With the number of families taking up formal childcare already falling significantly, childminders are already seeing huge drops in income from parent fees.”
Ofsted figures show that between October and December last year, 2,320 childminders left the childcare sector nationally and 1,470 joined, a net decrease of 850.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "Childminders are a vital part of the childcare market.
"We are committed to supporting early years providers at this time."