Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years

Today sees the launch of a new organisation for childcare professionals, or at least the rebranding of an existing one. From now on the National Childminding Association (NCMA) will be known as the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, in a move designed to allow nursery workers to become members too. To mark the occasion, the new organisation has released Childcare: Not Just a Job, A Vocation, a short report designed to "explore what childminders, nannies and nursery workers see as the benefits and challenges of their childcare profession."

The news comes just days after the announcement that another new organisation called the Independent Childminders Social Enterprise will be launched later this month.