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[Points to help you decide]

PAULINE KETTLE - Registered Childminder

About Childminders

Childminders are one of the most popular forms of childcare in the UK. There are over 80,000 registered childminders in England alone.

• A childminder is paid to look after a child in their home - not yours.
  
  
• Childminding appeals to many parents because they see it as the least expensive option. Although the cost has crept up slightly recently as the quality of childcare provided and expected has become more exacting.
  
  
• The 1989 Children's Act states that anyone who is paid to look after a child under eight for more than two hours a day in their home must be registered with the local authorities. (This does not include close relatives, aunts, grandparents etc.)
  
  
• The Children's Act allows a childminder to look after no more than three children under five with only one of those children being under a year. If the children are older a childminder can look after a total of six children under eight, as long as no more than three are under five years old. This figure includes the carer's own child or children. The local authority has a right to set a limit to the number of minded children over the age of eight.
  
  
• Childminders do not have to be trained in childcare but all newly registered childminders have to have a First Aid qualification and to undergo a six week "Introducing Childminding Practice" course which they gain a certificate for.

Childminders are now inspected by Ofsted. This happened on the 1st September 2001 when the Early Years Directorate of OFSTED, the Office for Standards in Education, took over responsibility for the registration and inspection of childminders in England.
Ofsted is now responsible for:

• inspecting potential childminders
• registering childminders
• carrying out regular inspections after registration

Ofsted have also introduced the National Standards for Childminding which have been introduced in England and which childminders must conform to before they can be registered and against which OFSTED will inspect the childminders.

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Childminder Checks:

• The childminder has to be interviewed by social services to check their home is safe, secure, warm, clean and has suitable equipment such as fireguards and stair gates. Anyone over the age of sixteen living with them will be interviewed with regards to health, and whether they have been involved with any form of violence, or child or drug abuse.
  
• The police run a criminal check on anyone in the house over sixteen but someone who is married to an ex-offender will not be automatically turned down. The assessing officer (the Under Eights Officer) will assess the relevance of the offence and its effect on the childminder's suitability.
  
• The local authority inspects childminders annually to make sure they are keeping up their standards of safety and hygiene.
  
• Remember: registration does not mean the childminder will provide a certain standard of childcare. It may simply mean that they have passed police and household safety checks. Registered childminders do not have to have any childcare qualifications and, although they are often mothers themselves, it is up to you to determine their suitability in this area. The Children's Act does not define what makes a person 'fit' to care for a child, however the Department of Health has issued guidelines to local authorities. They suggest officers should take into account the applicants experience, any qualifications or training, whether she can give consistent care, if she is mentally and physically stable and carries no record of abuse with children.

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Approved Childminding Networks - Tel: 020 8464 6164 - www.NCMA.org.uk:

• The National Childminding Association has worked hard to develop good quality affordable childcare. They have consulted closely with government to formulate the NCMA's Approved Childminding Network.
  
• To belong to the network the childminder takes two training courses called Developing Childminding Practice (DCP1 and DCP2). The second Development course involves educating three and four year olds which enables the childminder to be accredited by OFSTED and to be an 'early education provider' thus offering her charges the same sort of education they would receive at a pre-school nursery. NCMA network childminders receive regular visits from their co-ordinator.
  
• Parents looking for a certain level of commitment from the childminder would do well to look for an NCMA member. You can ask your local authority's Under Eights officer for a list of NCMA members along with the others registered minders.

• If your childminder is a member of an approved childminding network they can receive government funding, which means that if your child is three or four they may be eligible for a free part time place.

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Points to help you decide if a childminder is for you:

• A childminder is often less expensive than other childcare options.
  
• Childminders can often provide a homely environment.
  
• Remember that the attention and time of a childminder will be split between all the children in her care
  
• Childminders can provide a degree of flexibility that nurseries are unable to. However, if you are looking for this kind of flexibility make sure you negotiate with your childminder before you sign on the dotted line.
  
• Childminders can be a good solution for after-school care.
  
• Childminders are registered and inspected however many do not have to have any childcare qualifications and there are no training requirements.
  

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