Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire Childminding Support Services

This Cambridgeshire project was established in 2001 and provides support services for all childminders. Since the start of the project, NCMA has worked closely with the local authority to engage with childminders, and to improve the quality of the registered childminder workforce and ensure that there is a highly motivated, engaged and valued, home-based personnel.

 

The service we deliver

The service provides a wide variety of support for all childminders including:

 

  • Recruitment and support of new childminders – including training before they register with Ofsted to ensure that they are fully prepared
  • Working closely with the Early Years Childcare sufficiency team to identify areas where childcare places are needed
  • Linking newly registered childminders with experienced and trained existing childminders to ensure peer support
  • Providing support for all existing childminders
  • Working with all childminders to improve quality through the Quality Framework (quality improvement) scheme
  • Planning and delivering training across the county to meet the needs of the childminders
  • Coordinating three Children Come First Networks, and increasing membership to meet local and national government strategy, particularly in provision of Early Years funded and 2-year-old places
  • Supporting partnership working with all of the 40 Children’s Centres, and tailoring support according to local need
  • Arranging respite placements for children and families requiring short breaks, with experienced and trained childminders.

 

Results

The results from all the work are clear:

 

  1. Increased membership of Children Come First Networks to 148 members, 89 of which are accredited to draw down Early Years funding
  2. Improved Ofsted profile with 72% graded good or above against the national average of 69%. In 2006, 60% were graded good or above against a national average of 64%
  3. 34 active childminder groups supported by NCMA and working with Children’s Centres, encouraging a motivated and engaged workforce
  4. 66% of all childminders attend training regularly, compared to 34% in 2006
  5. 86% of all childminders engaged with the Quality Framework process.

 

The Service Team

The team in Cambridgeshire consists of:

 

  • A Service Manager, who manages the Project and staff, and is the main contact with the Early Years Service, and other partner organisations and Professionals
  • A Childminding Services Coordinator, who assists the Service Manager in management of the staff
  • Eight Childminding Development and Network Coordinators, who provide support, advice, and training opportunities for all childminders in Cambridgeshire, and work closely with other professionals in allocated areas.
  • A Respite Development worker, who works closely with Social care teams, and places children with childminders that are experienced and trained to support the child’s and families’ needs.

 

For more information, please contact Caroline Maryon, Service Manager.

              

 

Page last updated: 11/17/2011