Hi all!

contentious issue....

i went to a Surrey meeting this week and part was about a new scheme to replace network cm's. dividing into groups, essentially saying you need a level 3 to be on the top 2 tiers of memship. Potential impact lack of business as parents will call the 'top' 2 tiers first.
heated debate followed that many cm's been in job 10/15/20 years and no level 3 and that it counts for' nothing' in their eyes. Council rep said yes it counts for something but the world we are in is about gaining proper qualifications.

So - out of interest, what is your view?

Experience or qualifications? What if you had to chose counts got more as a childminder?

I personally see very few children working jobs without a level 3 anyway. I've nearly done my level 3 and feel that it was very beneficial and given me lots of broad relevant knowledge. I do think all cm's should be given financial support to do it

Hi all!

contentious issue....

i went to a Surrey meeting this week and part was about a new scheme to replace network cm's. dividing into groups, essentially saying you need a level 3 to be on the top 2 tiers of memship. Potential impact lack of business as parents will call the 'top' 2 tiers first.
heated debate followed that many cm's been in job 10/15/20 years and no level 3 and that it counts for' nothing' in their eyes. Council rep said yes it counts for something but the world we are in is about gaining proper qualifications.

So - out of interest, what is your view?

Experience or qualifications? What if you had to chose counts got more as a childminder?

I personally see very few children working jobs without a level 3 anyway. I've nearly done my level 3 and feel that it was very beneficial and given me lots of broad relevant knowledge. I do think all cm's should be given financial support to do it


Well I am a CM, with a child psychology degree, and a level 3 in early years, so I have lots of certificates. I am also only 25, but have 8 yrs childcare experience.

I get lots of calls from parents because of my degree, I am fully aware that I am not necessarily better at my job than someone with 20yrs experience, but I also think that they are no better than me. I chose to get a degree when I did so I had choices later on in life, and now with uni fees rocketing, I'm glad I did. I do feel as I am relatively new to CM, that having my degree has given me the confidence to stand side by side with those CM who have yrs experience. I also think despite how old you are, or how long you have been doing a job, its paramout to keep yourself up to date with current guidelines, you are never to old to learn. I think the best practitioners recognise this, and hold both qualifications and experience with equal respect! I learnt a lot completing my degree, and I am very proud of myself for it. As said it has spectacular market value for parents!!

Both are important. I think it must be harder for a new childminder starting up if they have no previous childcare experience or qualifications?

I don't think that parents would even know about a tiered system would they? And some parents would deliberately ring the other way around out it principle- I don't believe all parents would automatically ring people with higher qualifications but people who do their child's school run, or are advertising something specific that appeals to them etc.

i've been a childminder for 18 years and my experience is def. more important than qualifications. However some parents forget that I know what I am talking about, while others turn to me for advice. I am doing my level 3 because I didn't want to get left behind, and to offer the free 15 hours - our LA is still wanting that. Doing the coursework has helped me a couple of times when I talk to parents that don't listen, as I am able to use better language and make myself sound more official/intelligent -sorry not the best wording but I hope it makes sense.

I got my course part funded,but my tutor told me this week that there is no more funding available, its the 24+ and is like the student loans, you only pay it back of you earn over 21000 and then its in very small amounts. Another reason i felt for doing the course was that if childminding changes too much and I have had enough, it keeps my options open. If I had a day or two with no work I could do bank work at a nursery.

Both are important. BUT I have never had a parent ask me my qualifications, they ask my experience and look at me with the children, however the LA is always asking for what qualifications I have.

I first registered in 2001 and did the L3 Certificate of Childminding Practice because it was offered free and I actually enjoyed it :D. I completed it in 2004. I was offered the NVQ L3 apprenticeship free in 2009 so decided I would do that, again I enjoyed it. Of the 6 childminders on the course all had the CCP and one also had NNEB. I completed it in 2011. I knew a lot and found the work easy (if difficult to fit it) because I was doing it already (however one childminder in particular struggled with the actual work, not fitting it in - she did it during the day and left the children to it:rolleyes:) . I also have a L4 Certificate of Higher Education in Welsh and Bilingualism in the Early Years (done because I moved to a Welsh speaking area from England and it focussed on activities with children rather than adult ed classes). I would say that to me this was the most valuable qualification as it enables me to use Welsh with the children, a necessity here.

When my children went to childminders I never once asked / looked at their qualifications. I was more interested in their experience, being a parent themselves and how they interacted with the children and of course that good old gut instinct. None of my parents have ever asked me about qualifications.

xxxx

No parent has ever asked me about qualifications or inspection grading, they've only ever been interested in my experience and how I'm going to care for their child