Childminders and independence - looking to the future
Childminders have always worked for themselves, running totally unique and independent businesses from their own homes... caring for children from different families who have chosen them because of the personalised services they offer...
Ofsted regulation and the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in 2008 changed things slightly for childminders. They were now being regulated at the same level as nurseries and pre-schools with their own individual Ofsted grading inspections and a requirement to comply with statutory documents. This was something many thousands of childminders fought very hard to achieve and they are proud of their professionalism when sharing their inspection reports and ways of working with children’s parents.
However, because of lack of support from Government and within the EYFS and Childcare Register documents, thousands of childminders need support beyond the initial training course to clarify statutory requirements and to make the EYFS work well for them in their in day-to-day practice.
Local Authorities often have childminder support officers who visit childminders on a local level and whose remit is to offer help and advice. This service is slowly being eroded by the Government and Local Authority budgets are being cut. Many childminders believe that, very soon, local support will be completely removed as childminder agencies are brought online.
My writing in this series of articles will focus on how childminders who want to stay independent can support each other and access information and advice to support their businesses.
Childminders have always worked for themselves, running totally unique and independent businesses from their own homes... caring for children from different families who have chosen them because of the personalised services they offer...
Ofsted regulation and the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in 2008 changed things slightly for childminders. They were now being regulated at the same level as nurseries and pre-schools with their own individual Ofsted grading inspections and a requirement to comply with statutory documents. This was something many thousands of childminders fought very hard to achieve and they are proud of their professionalism when sharing their inspection reports and ways of working with children’s parents.
However, because of lack of support from Government and within the EYFS and Childcare Register documents, thousands of childminders need support beyond the initial training course to clarify statutory requirements and to make the EYFS work well for them in their in day-to-day practice.
Local Authorities often have childminder support officers who visit childminders on a local level and whose remit is to offer help and advice. This service is slowly being eroded by the Government and Local Authority budgets are being cut. Many childminders believe that, very soon, local support will be completely removed as childminder agencies are brought online.
My writing in this series of articles will focus on how childminders who want to stay independent can support each other and access information and advice to support their businesses.
Useful links -
Childminding Forum - www.childmindingforum.co.uk
Independent Childminders Website - www.independentchildminders.co.uk
Independent Childminders Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/independentchildminders/
Childminding Forum - www.childmindingforum.co.uk
Independent Childminders Website - www.independentchildminders.co.uk
Independent Childminders Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/independentchildminders/