CHILDMINDING IN HEREFORDSHIRE
Herefordshire Childminding - Home based Childcare
What is Childminding
Registered childminders are self-employed and work in their own homes. By law they must be registered by Ofsted if they are caring for children aged 7 and under for more than 2 hours a day.
Families Choose registed childminders because they are:
SAFE
- Ofsted registered and inspected to the national standards
- Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure
- Health checked
- Home inspected for safety
- Paediatric first aid certificate
PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED
- Attend module 1 of the Diploma in Home based childcare (encouraged to continue with module 2 and 3 resulting in a level 3 qualification)
- Attend a 6 hour briefing and Induction to Childminding - understanding Ofsted National Standards
- Business,organisational skills
- Encouraged to keep abreast of developing trends and to continue professional development through attending regular training.
STIMULATING
Free to give children the following:
- wide range of experience indoors and out of the home
- attending group sessions for children's socialisation
- trips to parks, countryside, events
- Birth to three Matters framework
- Every Child matters framework
- Accredited childminders offer free early years education sessions to 3 and 4 year olds
- Being able to care for children of mixed ages enabling care of siblings and continuity of care
PERSONAL
- Caring for small numbers
- Childminders really know the children and the families
- Offer indivdual support, tailormade to individual needs
- Consistent care
FLEXIBLE
Care contracts are individual to suit family needs
- Overnight
- Short term
- One off sessions
- Before and after school
- Wrap around care
- Holiday care
- Accomodating shift patterns
- Respite care
- TAX CREDITS AND EMPLOYER CHILDCARE SUPPORT
Can be used with registered Childminders
LOCAL
Childminders live and work in their neighbourhood enabling children to grow up in their local community attending local clubs or visiting friends.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
The NCMA quality assurance schemes are based on NCMA's 10 Quality Standards covering all aspects of home-based childcare. They have been created with the help and support of the Department of Education and Skills (DFES) and have received official Investors in children (IiC) endorsement. IiC is designed to give parents confidence in the quality of the childcare they have chosen.
The NCMA Children Come First Childminding Network is the scheme chosen for Herefordshire Childminders
This is the only nationally recognised quality assurance scheme for childminding networks. A Children Come First approved childminding network is a group of registered childminders who work together, with support and guidance from a network of coordinators, to provide a quality childminding service for their local community.
Networks are very adaptable and can provide a range of services to meet your needs and those of your community. This includes sharing resources such as play equipment and information amongst network members and offering childcare cover when childminders are sick or on holiday.
If your childminder belongs to an NCMA Children Come First network, he or she will have:
- actively thought about their practice and found ways of improving their service
- been assessed by a network coordinator to make sure they are working towards NCMA's Quality Standards
- received ongoing visits and support for a coordinator
- demonstrated very high standards of childcare
- Accredited network childminders offer 3 and 4 year old nursery education places
- Matching service by the coordinator - families need to network childminders
For more information contact Ruth Stallard, Diane Woodbridge