Accredited childminders

[Polly2]

Are any of you accredited?

Does thid mean that you can provide early years education for 3-4yr olds? Isn't that what we do anyway?

I am confused :panic:

It is probably different in Wales too because we don't have EYFS and are not obligated to do foundation phase but I was wondering if it was worth the hassle to become accredited.

I think I would have to have 2 sets of inspections - one from CSSIW and one from Estyn but not sure.

Do parents still move their kiddies to a nursery in your opinion?

I am going to ring ncma after b hol weekend but just wondered what you thought?

[huggableshelly]

its so you can offer free places to 3 year olds and over! I've not looked into it yet.

[Blackhorse]

Hi,

This is something I would like to do..(I'm in scotland so no eyfs)
It would mean that I could offer the free place for the kids when they are 3+

I only know one cm in the area that does it but it sounds good.
It is an additional inspection (HMi Inspection) plus more paperwork but I think I will do it anyways.
I was advised by my development officer to wait until I was about 6 months registered before I start with this though to give me some time to get settled I guess..

If I had a choice between a cm that is accredited or one that isn't I think I would go for the one that is accredited so that my dd would not have to move between nursery and cm once she is older...but as far as I know there aren't too many accredited cms but I could be wrong

[FussyElmo]

Im thinking about this but waiting on DO to get back to me about the details. Im thinking more about it now because we were told at the network that they are plans to change the funding to 2 year olds as well. Last time we were told there is only one accreditted childminder in the area.

But there was a post on here recently that they were told they could only receive what the funding is for that area and your not allowed to ask the parents to make up the difference so that was something.

But I am certainly going to go for it :)

[FussyElmo]

Sorry forgot this bit we were told that we would have to have the teacher form our local children's centre in on a regular basis to see if we were delivering the EYFS properly and there would checks done to check attendences:)

[westbrom44]

I am an Accredited Network Childminder.

I have a child who is starting to do the full 15 hours of Nursery Funded sessions from the Summer term.

I offered them initially because a parent asked me if I could so that she didnt lose the funding and she didnt want her child to attend full time nursery. She couldnt see any reason for taking her child away from me as I go to playgroups, so her child was socialising with other children anyway.

I believe that if I didnt offer the Nursey Funded sessions the children would have left me at the age of 3 years. It is nice to have children stay with me until they go to school and beyond.

As I was an Accredited Childminder anyway, I havent found it difficult to adapt to EYFS as I was already doing observations, assessments and planning for the Nursery Funded sessions.

I did have to be a Network Childminder, which I was. I have had to take my NVQ 3 in Childcare, learning and development, and aso the NCMA Quality First.

My Ofsted inspection took place over 2 days and took about 7 hours in total.

[Polly2]

I was told by my inspector that there are no accredited cms in my area so it might be a good selling point for me if I was to go ahead.

Its just that our area is not too good on support or training and I don't want to be left in the lurch.

Everything useful I have learnt about cm I have learnt from this site :clapping:

It sounds like a good idea though especially if parents are offered free places at 2 :eek:

[Polly2]

Thanks westbrom for the info...do you think I should phone local ncma first then to see about quality first?

Or should I ring local county council - I might be able to get funding especially as there are no cms accredited

[Polly2]

Also how do you get on a network?? I don't think there is one in my area?

[westbrom44]

I was invited to be a Network Childminder by the local Childminding team at the Children's Information Centre. I was sent information through the post. I was told I could receive funding for the NVQ through the Network.

It took a while to become a Network Childminder, after quite a few visits from the Network Co-ordinator. Then I had to do my NVQ 3 and Quality First. It is extra work to be in the Network as I have to attend meetings and be monitored, but it gives me alot of support. I have been childminding for 5 years now, but wanted to be the best I possibly could be. That is not to say you cant be an excellent childminder if you are not in a Network!

I would imagine it would be the local council that you would need to contact.
I believe that if all 2 year olds get nursery funding eventually, then unless you are an Accredited Childminder you wont get alot of work. It wont be worth sending a child to a childminder for 12 months!

Good luck.

[huggableshelly]

Thankyou westbrom44

I dont think there is a childminding network in Herys or if there is I've missed it, I'll ask at the next childrens centre meeting.

I'll need to do the quality first too but going to sit back and wait as doing OU work already. Its nice to gain information from a cm who is set up... be help ty

[Polly2]

Thanks so much for info

I have done the DHC so would I have to do NVQ too? Was the NVQ to be on the network or to be accedited?

[Polly2]

I have never seen the point of doing quality first tbh

It seems a lot of money and work to only last for 3 years. Do I need it to be accredited then?

Sorry for all questions :blush:

[aly]

hiya

what area are you? Im under caerphilly and just going through the network process.
I think {im not too sure myself as i get confused} that yes once we are accredited we can offer the early years places.

xx

[aly]

I've just completed the caerphilly qality care standards adn was paid £100 for doign so ;)

[westbrom44]

Hello again.


I joined the Network and then had to take the NVQ 3, and Quality First at the same time. It is a requirement of being a Network member to do Quality First. My NVQ was paid for, but the Quality First cost me fifty pounds, although it should have been two hundred pounds.

Once in the Network I was assessed to become Accredited. It was quite a long process. In England you have to be a Network member to be Accredited.

I hope this has helped.

[nannymcflea]

If your area is part of the Children Come First Childminding Network you can join this, you have to go through a series of written Q's, policies and procedures that then goes to panel and they decide that you can join.

If you decide to become accredited you will be able to access funding for either 12 hours or 15 hours if your area is part of the Pathfinder Project.

To become accredited you will be observed by your network co-ordinator and answer a series of written Q's.

You need to be a network member to become accredited. You do not have to take a child for the full hours, parents can mix and match with nurseries/pre-schools, this is partually good for children who need time to settle into full time playgroup.

I'm accredited, have no funded children and have had no phone calls for any this year, still have to fill in the paperwork and attend the meetings though!

[Polly2]

Right - it sounds like its different for different areas then.

I really don't think there is a network round here - I have never heard anything about it anyway so I hope I don't have to be in one to be accredited.

I wouldn't mind doing quality first but I couldn't afford it at the moment.

Aly - I am in monmouthshire, its really cool that you got paid for doing it :thumbsup: well done!

Sounds like I need to give my local county council a ring to see how to go about it and whether they will fund me.

Thanks for all your info it really helps!

[aly]

Right - it sounds like its different for different areas then.

I really don't think there is a network round here - I have never heard anything about it anyway so I hope I don't have to be in one to be accredited.

I wouldn't mind doing quality first but I couldn't afford it at the moment.

Aly - I am in monmouthshire, its really cool that you got paid for doing it :thumbsup: well done!

Sounds like I need to give my local county council a ring to see how to go about it and whether they will fund me.

Thanks for all your info it really helps!
I am sure you do have to be in a network to be accredited...i will find out for you though.
It was free, my ncmacontact put me {and 2 friends} through for it
Might be better to ring ncma {local} instead...if no joy then council should know

Good luck
xx

[Polly2]

Thanks aly I will ring after bank holiday wkend :)