Support Childminder scheme

Support Childminder Scheme

The Sure Start Unit has contracted the National Childminding Association (NCMA) to run 7 Support Childminder (SCM) during 2003 – 06. Pathfinders areas are:

Birmingham
Manchester
Liverpool
Leeds
Medway and
London Borough of Enfield
London Borough Lewisham.

The scheme builds on previous local authority initiatives and matches prospective and new childminders with Support Childminders (more experienced childminders) in order to:

attract new people, including unregistered childminders, into childminding
help prospective childminders through the process of registration
and ensure that they are set up in business properly and are fully engaged with local childminder networks (which will aid retention).

In each area there there is a Support Childminder Coordinator to support the Support Childminders.

This scheme is intended to reduce drop out and aid retention during the registration process and the first 6 -12 months of setting up and being in business. Anecdotal evidence has suggested that this is the most difficult period for potential and new childminders.

The pathfinders are centred in locations which include areas where there are significant numbers of unemployed Lone Parents, as the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) wishes to monitor the impact of increased availability of childcare, resulting from increased support for potential childminders, against the return to work of lone parent families, which is a priority government target.

Funding for rolling out this scheme nationally was provided to all local authorities in April 2004 to cover the financial years 04/05 and 05/06. Contact your local authority to find out if there is a scheme planned for your area.

Evaluators have been commissioned and 'good practice guides' have been sent out to help Local Authorities with their schemes. The first four covering recruitment of Coordinators, choice of locations, the recruitment of support childminders and becoming a support chilminder have already been distributed.

Publications

Please contact Prolog for copies or click on the following links:

Executive summary of The Support Childminder Pathfinder Scheme: Evaluation Report September 2003 - November 2004 - summary of guidance below and reports on evaluation from the first year of operation
The Support Childminder Pathfinder Scheme: Evaluation Report September 2003 - November 2004 - full report
Executive summary of guidance on the recruitment of support childminder co-ordinators - Interim Report 1 - Executive summary
Guidance on the recruitment of support childminder co-ordinators - Interim Report 1
Appendices - including job descriptions, person specifications, adverts and documents used in co-ordinator interviews - Interim Report 1
Selection of local authority wards - guidance note - Interim Report 2
Guidance on the recruitment of support childminders - Executive summary and Interim Report 3
Becoming a support childminder - Interim Report 4 -Executive summary
Becoming a support childminder - Interim Report 4

Links

National Childminding Association

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