ABSTRACT
This chapter takes account of the fact that, though many babies and young children continue to be cared for outside of the home, it is still possible to reduce the number of transitions, both horizontal and vertical, that children experience. Starting with a consideration of Richard Bowlby's model of 'attachment-based daycare', it is easy to see the value of childminding as perhaps the optimum outcome for babies and young children needing daycare. Childminders are able to provide a level of personalised and sustained care for children in a way that is difficult to replicate in group daycare provision. The childminder model promotes sustained, personalised care over an extended period of time, ideally several years. The children's developmental stage and experience are considered when organising any group activities, rather than their age. A self-registration, free-flow system is used with all pre-school and reception children within certain periods of the morning and afternoon.
