Could YOU be a professional childminder?
16/02/2009
A survey recently found that grandparents provide up to 20 hours of free childcare a week for their grandchildren so that their own children can continue to work.
The National Childminding Association hears from lots of registered childminders who are also caring for their own grandchildren as well as other children. Some grandparents became registered childminders when they found a renewed interest in a career that they could do from home, whilst still being able to help out their family with vital childcare.
Ofsted states that: “Most childcare providers caring for children aged under eight must register with us unless the law says they are not required to do so.” So if you are caring for children under 8 years old, as well as your own grandchildren, in your own home you must register as a childminder.
The benefits of registering as a childminder can mean a new career path for you and a valuable source of income. If the parents of your grandchildren are eligible they may receive child tax credits, as you will be a registered childcarer. Their employer may also be able to provide Childcare Vouchers which can be exchanged for registered childcare services. Of course if you are the registered carer you can accept these vouchers by signing up to the same voucher scheme as the parents.
What do I have to do to register?
You will have to agree to look after at least one other child, other than your own grandchildren. Ofsted will set the number of children you can care for, up to a maximum of six children under eight years old, of which usually no more than three may be under the age of five.
Contact your local Family Information Service who will be able to give you information on the next childminding pre-registration briefing session. You may be able to take advantage of a special NCMA membership package that includes:
• A year’s membership to the professional and membership association for registered childminders and nannies, NCMA. This provides you with a number of benefits including; access to free legal advice, information and guidance on training.
• 12 months’ compulsory public liability insurance
• A complete set of business paperwork, including model contracts
• A lockable case to keep your paperwork secure.
Some newly registered childminders are eligible for a start-up grant, which covers the NCMA Quality Start package. This includes all of the above and your introductory training course. Contact your local authority to find out whether you qualify.
How Astra made it work for her
Astra Attridge from Havering (pictured above) has been childminding for 33 years. She childminds for two of her grandchildren among others. Astra had five sons and in 1976, the eldest two started primary school, so she decided to register as a childminder. Astra started caring for one child at first and built up her business. Astra began looking after a family’s first child in 1981 and is now childminding the young family of that child alongside her own grandchildren aged 8 and 5.
Astra said: “I’ve brought up five sons of my own, I thought if I could cope with that I could cope with anything! I really enjoy childminding and once my children had grown up a bit I was able to take on some training. I recently did an Open University course about children and passed that in 2007, I was really proud of my achievement.”
Astra commented that there was not much relevant training until 1999, when childminders received a letter offering a certificate in training for childminders who had been childminding for some time. So she started doing the new CACHE CCP level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to A-level. After achieving the level 3, she went on to complete her level 4, Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education at college.
“I think those new to childminding may find some of the training a bit daunting but with the right support from local NCMA groups and other childminders it will become easier to understand. Looking after children keeps you young too!
“Childminding makes a really rewarding career. At the moment I’m still loving it and don’t want to give up looking after children just yet! Plus of course, it boosts your pension!”
Further information is available from:
Family Information Service - 0800 096 0296 or follow the first link below.
The National Childminding Association – 0800 169 4486 - second link below.