Speaking up for Independent Childminders

[sarah707]

At the North West 4Children event yesterday the speaker stated that they now have 40 'expressions of interest' from organisations looking into becoming agencies.

One of our Independent Childminders Facebook group members, Rachel Buckler from Early Years Hub, pointed out that they seem to be missing the point - she told them that 'thousands of childminders have no incentives or desire to want to join one'!!

Thank you for speaking up for the thousands of childminders who don't want or need agencies and were probably working and couldn't get to the event to speak up for ourselves Rachel!

We are all working very hard to support each other and stay independent over on the Independent Childminders Facebook group - we have over 17500 members and the number is growing every day.

New members are always welcome to join us

https://www.facebook.com/groups/inde...tchildminders/

[Simona]

Thank you for sharing

I have no doubt that there are several organisations 'interested in becoming agencies' and I have said all along in this forum 'be alert' because things are happening in the background
Members here now know there is an agency in my LA with cms registered as their members....and another one about to register cms too...@Home Childcare.

We are aware that the huge majority of Ofsted Registered cms 'will not' and 'do not need' to join an agency....what their effect will be on ICM is to be seen as yet we cannot compare with anything.

I was able to ask a few questions at the London OBC this week...both in the room and privately to the HMI when she left the meeting

Some of my questions were about Cms agencies .
Ofsted too are waiting to see how 'agencies pan out' (their response)....but I made my feelings clear...as did many others...what we thought about them
It all revolves around 'support'

June O'Sullivan will do a formal feedback from the London OBC ...if anything is missed in that I will see how to put the rest in writing

[BallyH]

Thank you Sarah for sharing and also Simona for keeping us informed. We need to stay united and positive and yes 'alert'.

[Simona]

Thank you Sarah for sharing and also Simona for keeping us informed. We need to stay united and positive and yes 'alert'.

Thank you for your reply Moh

I always hope to keep cms informed as much as I can ...I also represent cms in various capacities through my voluntary work and at the many meetings I attend....OBC being one of them

Raising cms' questions also keeps the rest of the sector informed on cms' issues and the need for them to be included in everything they do and what is happening to cms via various govt and Ofsted policies.

[mumofone]

At the North West 4Children event yesterday the speaker stated that they now have 40 'expressions of interest' from organisations looking into becoming agencies. One of our Independent Childminders Facebook group members, Rachel Buckler from Early Years Hub, pointed out that they seem to be missing the point - she told them that 'thousands of childminders have no incentives or desire to want to join one'!! Thank you for speaking up for the thousands of childminders who don't want or need agencies and were probably working and couldn't get to the event to speak up for ourselves Rachel! We are all working very hard to support each other and stay independent over on the Independent Childminders Facebook group - we have over 17500 members and the number is growing every day. New members are always welcome to join us https://www.facebook.com/groups/inde...tchildminders/

Here here! Well put Sarah :-)