Childminding Network
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Childminding Network is a quality assurance scheme approved by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) Children Come First, in partnership with the Department for Children, Families and Schools and Ofsted. More information about this quality assurance scheme is available on the NCMA website http://www.ncma.org.uk/#2646X0.
It is a service that supports registered childminders to become network members, enhancing their childcare service and offering parents an additional choice of provision.
What does being a Network Childminder mean?
All Network Childminders:
- Are visited by their coordinator every 8 - 12 weeks for one to one support
- Are expected to attend a minimum of 18 hours of training per year - continuous professional development is encouraged
- Have access to an equipment and resources loan scheme, which includes travel cots, highchairs, multi-cultural toys and reference books
- Receive a newsletter with the latest news and information
- Meet regularly as a group to share good practice and enhance their service
Parents also have access to the services of the coordinator, for advice and support.
Other services provided by the Network
Nursery Education (NE) places
- As an approved Children Come First Network, some childminders can provide NE places for children aged three and four years old allowing parents to access the Nursery Education Grant.
- Childminders who wish to become accredited undergo further assessment and training in the Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Children with special needs
- We offer childminders access to specialised training and support for working with children with special needs
- One of the coordinators can liaise with parents to provide advice and help match them with a suitable childminder
- We can offer a small amount of top-up funding which will allow the childminder to restrict their numbers in order to provide a more specialised and individual service where it is needed.
Contact Childminding Network Coordinators
The coordinators recruit registered childminders to the network and organise a range of services including training, and both individual and group support and advice.
Helen Swan: 07957 996095 (work mobile)
Lucy Chester: 07985 156502 (work mobile)