Maria Miller, the Shadow Families Minister, reveals that twelve childminders a day in England have quit the profession since the Government introduced its controversial new curriculum for toddlers.
New figures show that in the first year of the Early Years Foundation Stage, at least 4,277 childminders have left the profession.
The EYFS is a new national framework including 69 ‘early learning goals’ which childminders have a statutory duty to teach children.
Miller said that childminders "would rather quit than deal with the reams of bureaucracy and red tape which Ministers have introduced".
The growing bureaucracy facing childminders include 62 pages of Ofsted registration forms which include questions asking applicants if they have ever used acupuncture.
Pre-completed forms to register as a childminder with Ofsted are being sold on Ebay for as little as £2.99 as professionals seek to avoid the onerous red tape.
"A lighter-touch regime would support rather than hinder the hard work of childminders, and help more families obtain the affordable local childcare they so desperately need", Miller added.