Professional development
As well as the training that childminders and
nannies must take as part of their registration or approval, NCMA
recommends that childcare professionals continue their training
throughout their career, increasing their confidence and skills and
offering a better service for the families they work with.
There are lots of courses and one-day training sessions that can
help give you new ideas and help you to extend the services you
offer. These sessions are usually arranged locally and might cover
essential knowledge such as child protection or disability
equality, or help extend your experience in areas such as messy
play, baby sign language or baby massage.
Contact your local NCMA office to find
out what types of training are available in your area. Your local
authority, childminding group or regional childminding association
may also put on training for childminders in your area.
Childminders who belong to quality-assured childminding networks
often have access to extra training organised by their network
coordinators.
Typical training sessions available to network childminders might
include:
- Child protection
- Equal opportunities and inclusion
- Special educational needs
- Early Years Foundation Stage
- Reflective practice
- Marketing
- The business side of childminding
- Working with vulnerable children
- Foundation Phase (in Wales).
Visit NCMA Children Come
First website (external link) for more information about NCMA
Children Come First Childminding Networks.