so who didn't benefit from the capital grant?

**kindredspirits** · 22-01-2009, 05:05 PM

i am curious how many cm's didn't benefit from the way their council disptributed the capital grant - and in what area's these were.... i am then going to complain to the government that the way in which councils have distributed this money is unfair - if 1 childminder in an area gets a lump sum (and no offense to them, i would have claimed it if i could) then all childminders in all other areas should have equal opportunity.

so, let me know your area and your story and i'll try and compile some information!

anna xx

**Blaze** · 22-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Me...apparently in our area it's not for CM's!

I really wanted to do a sensory garden....instead:

Network minders were given a photo printer (wasn't v. impressed with the quality as already bought the same one), a digital camera (already got one), a kids camera (already got 2), a memory card & recharable batteries....alll of witch have to be returned if you leave the network.

I know I sound ungrateful, but in my case it was just a waste of money that could have been put to very good use elsewhere!

**ajs** · 22-01-2009, 05:11 PM

not a peep of it in my county nottinghamshire
i was feeling cynical and thought maybe it was only offered to network minders but haven't heard of any getting it to be honest
so i assume it wasn't offered to any minder in nottinghamshire

**deeb66** · 23-01-2009, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Blaze

Me...apparently in our area it's not for CM's!

I really wanted to do a sensory garden....instead:

Network minders were given a photo printer (wasn't v. impressed with the quality as already bought the same one), a digital camera (already got one), a kids camera (already got 2), a memory card & recharable batteries....alll of witch have to be returned if you leave the network.

I know I sound ungrateful, but in my case it was just a waste of money that could have been put to very good use elsewhere!

The Networks were given totally seperate budgets from the Councils.

Any resources you received from the Network was not from the Capital Grant.

**Blaze** · 23-01-2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by deeb66

The Networks were given totally seperate budgets from the Councils.

Any resources you received from the Network was not from the Capital Grant.

I edited my post 3 times as I was unsure if it was separate or not...then couldn't get the post to read right & in the end gave up!

**deeb66** · 23-01-2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Blaze

I edited my post 3 times as I was unsure if it was separate or not...then couldn't get the post to read right & in the end gave up!

You sound just like me

Sometime it is just not worth the effort

**Blaze** · 23-01-2009, 12:08 PM

LOL...at least I know i'm not alone then!

**christine e** · 22-01-2009, 05:09 PM

When I enquired via our Childminding Dev Team that just said they knew nothing about it. My local authority is Nottinghamshire County Council (not Nottingham City)

Cx

**littletreasures** · 22-01-2009, 05:12 PM

What Capital grant?

Sutton Council have not offered us any money and trying to get hold of anyone on the team is almost impossible.

You try and ring them and you can never get anybody on the phone. You leave a message and lo and behold they always phone back when you are on the school run so you can't talk!!!!

**The Juggler** · 07-05-2009, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by littletreasures

What Capital grant?

Sutton Council have not offered us any money and trying to get hold of anyone on the team is almost impossible.

You try and ring them and you can never get anybody on the phone. You leave a message and lo and behold they always phone back when you are on the school run so you can't talk!!!!

We're not getting any money from the access grant either - despite the survey about what we'd like. They're buying in resources and putting them at the children's centre on a loan basis.

Lady Haha · 07-05-2009, 07:39 PM

I'm in Bristol, but come under South Glos council. I rang my development worker after reading about this on here a while back and she said it was for accredited childminders only here

Reading this thread makes me think how unfair it is though! I'm a single parent and my income is the only one coming into the household, so any help to buy things to improve the way I deliver EYFS would've been gratefully received!

**ajs** · 22-01-2009, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by christine e

When I enquired via our Childminding Dev Team that just said they knew nothing about it. My local authority is Nottinghamshire County Council (not Nottingham City)

Cx

funny christine when i was typing my message i put that you didn't get it either and you were a network minder then i remembered you weren't so deleted it and then there you were right above me

**janiefear** · 22-01-2009, 05:39 PM

I'm in Staffordshire and we've had a camera/camcorder/mp3 thingy (probably valued at about £100 each). Staffordshire are also scrapping our Networks unless you are accredited so that's me off the Network as of April. They say that they are spending too much money supporting just a few childminders but guess which childminders have turned up to all the meetings so far, you've got it - the Network Minders.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying my minding at the mo, paperwork and knowledge seems to be heading in the right direction but access to the Capital Grant might have been nice .

They have funded my first year of NVQ though - suppose I shouldn't be too greedy.

Jane

**jeanybeany** · 22-01-2009, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by janiefear

I'm in Staffordshire and we've had a camera/camcorder/mp3 thingy (probably valued at about £100 each). Staffordshire are also scrapping our Networks unless you are accredited so that's me off the Network as of April. They say that they are spending too much money supporting just a few childminders but guess which childminders have turned up to all the meetings so far, you've got it - the Network Minders.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying my minding at the mo, paperwork and knowledge seems to be heading in the right direction but access to the Capital Grant might have been nice .

They have funded my first year of NVQ though - suppose I shouldn't be too greedy.

Jane

I am in staffordshire too! I chose the mp3 microphones thinking that you would get atleast two, no just one with a value of £20 (seen a pack of five for about £100). Not really fair when I could have chose a camera but didn't due to having my own and thinking the older ones would like them. Yes they do like it but spend most of the time arguing over it (lol).

I too am in a network and applied to become accredited before I knew about this, but you are right the only cm that go to meetings are the network ones infact no other cm in my area are interested when I tell them about meet ups.

It would have been nice for all cm to be given a sum of money to choose resources to meet EYFS requirements but also meet the cm own establishment and the children's interests in their care. I would love some multicultural dresing up and a dark den!

They do fund training and things like you say, I suppose you can't have everything

**Angela234** · 22-01-2009, 05:56 PM

I was told by our local CORNWALL childcare, play development assistant that the grant is only for ACREDITED CHILDMINDERS which i think is unfair surely we have to provide the same environment and resources.

Angela

**lorraines little treasures** · 22-01-2009, 06:01 PM

wn i went on a eyfs course last year,the early year worker said we would get a form through the post to fill in and return, i did this, rang my early years team about 4 times now and they said they havent had word yet, which to me means NO NO,
i am really annoyed as some areas are getting it and others not.we all provide the same care,so why not.

**sarah707** · 22-01-2009, 06:01 PM

Cheshire have given printer, camera and photo frame to 40 people... they are giving laptops to 20 of those 40 people.

The rest of us are getting nowt

**Monkey1** · 22-01-2009, 06:02 PM

I am still been given the run around. When i kicked up a fuss last time we had a questionaire...................still waiting!

**Jules12Wed** · 22-01-2009, 06:08 PM

I received £600 in December 2007 which had to be spent by February 2008 it had to be spent on some kind of IT equipment computer, printer, digital camera, software, paper, ink cartridges etc.

It was just for network childminders.

I have asked about more money after seeing on here about the capital grant and was told that maybe next year which of course is now this year.

**merry** · 22-01-2009, 06:09 PM

I'm in Warrington and had a letter yesterday saying that due to government funding we were all getting £100 for resources to support quality practice. We have to go along to a session where suppliers will be there with toys, books, gardening equipment, seeds and choose what we want.