NCMA v MM

[Lems]

A question...
Am I right in reading that some of you are with MM and some with NCMA?? I've been on both of their websites and cannot really see what differences there are (yes I can be very dumb at times )
If you can share any pro's con's of both that would be fabdab xxx

[rickysmiths]

MM is an Insurance Broker who sells insurance and has no interest in Childminding or Childminders apart from selling insurance to them. Their Public Lib. insurance is more expensive than NCMA.

Bluefin who associate themselves with NCMA but are like MM just an Insurance Broker whos only interest in childminders is to sell as much insurance as they can. Car, Household, Travel. They sometimes imply that they are the only people who provde suitable insurances for Childminders. This is not true there are many Insurance Companies who provide both car and household Insurance for Childminders.

NCMA National Childminding Assoccation. They are a Registered , non-Profit Making, Charity, set up originally by Childminders for Childminders. They Lobby Parliment in order to promote Childminding, the importance of good quality home based childcare and generally represent our interests in the press and media aiming to improve our lot. They also speak to Ofsted. They hold Regional Forum meetings all over the Country 3 times a year where we can express our opinions, problems, ideas.

They are our professional club if you like and we pay an annual membership to belong to it. They also provide Public Lib/and or Employees Insurance through Royal Sun Alliance. (nothing to do with Bluefin)

Hope this info helps.

[flowerpots]

im with ncma but after reading the horror stories of cm's getting no help in recovering money owed by parents i will be changing to mm when my insurance is up for renewal, my understanding is that mm are much more helpful in recovering money and you can still be a member of ncma.

[sarah707]

As I am sure you can see Rickysmiths (and many other forum members) are staunch supporters of the NCMA.

The NCMA is a registered charity which supports childminders at Government level.

You can be a member of the NCMA whether you buy it's insurance cover or not.

Morton Michel is an insurance company specialising in childcare - childminders, nannies, nurseries etc.

BOTH offer a range of other benefits for childminders including...

Public and employers Liability Insurance

Legal Expenses cover

Dedicated advice helplines

BOTH have childminder magazines - NCMA has a posted one 4 times a year (I think)... Morton Michel have an emailed one monthly.

Morton Michel give you access to a Childcare Club which offers -

Monthly e-newsletter

Creative Minds digital magazine

Monthly Prize Draws

Free EYFS Training Guides

A range of discounts in a little booklet.

NCMA also has discounts etc available to members plus online support.

There are differences -

Morton Michel offer debt recovery for amounts over £100 / NCMA for amounts over £150. Members have reported that the Morton Michel service is easier to access - I understand NCMA are looking to improve the service their insurer offers.

One of them (can't remember which now) does not cover over 8s playing outside unsupervised and the other does... I am sure someone will enlighten me.

Morton Michel covers up to 10 children in the house at any one time ... I believe NCMA covers up to 12.

I hope that gives you a balanced view

[Chatterbox Childcare]

As I am sure you can see Rickysmiths (and many other forum members) are staunch supporters of the NCMA.

The NCMA is a registered charity which supports childminders at Government level.

You can be a member of the NCMA whether you buy it's insurance cover or not.

Morton Michel is an insurance company specialising in childcare - childminders, nannies, nurseries etc.

BOTH offer a range of other benefits for childminders including...

Public and employers Liability Insurance

Legal Expenses cover

Dedicated advice helplines

BOTH have childminder magazines - NCMA has a posted one 4 times a year (I think)... Morton Michel have an emailed one monthly.

Morton Michel give you access to a Childcare Club which offers -

Monthly e-newsletter

Creative Minds digital magazine

Monthly Prize Draws

Free EYFS Training Guides

A range of discounts in a little booklet.

NCMA also has discounts etc available to members plus online support.

There are differences -

Morton Michel offer debt recovery for amounts over £100 / NCMA for amounts over £150. Members have reported that the Morton Michel service is easier to access - I understand NCMA are looking to improve the service their insurer offers.

One of them (can't remember which now) does not cover over 8s playing outside unsupervised and the other does... I am sure someone will enlighten me. This is NCMA

Morton Michel covers up to 10 children in the house at any one time ... I believe NCMA covers up to 12.

I hope that gives you a balanced view

I also believe that NCMA act for the childminders whereas MM do not. for example when the government wanted to increase our membership fees from £25 to £130 per year NCMA lobbyed the government as it was stopped

You can be a member of NCMA to support them and take out MM insurance

[clio0602]

I have insurance with MM purely because I could understand their contracts more easily, I got grant for the start up pack, and I had seen posts about NCMA not being the best with chasing owed money.

I will be getting membership of NCMA this yr due to what they do for us and keeping mm insurance also x

[Allie]

One thing to add to what Sarah said above, with NCMA you can become as involved as you want with what happens within NCMA, there are lots of opportunities to have your say both locally and nationally. Obviously you could still do this if you just had membership and insured elsewhere but if you don't like NCMA insurance you could lobby for change. They always listen and if enough members want change they will


Allie

[onceinabluemoon]

I've always used MM for insurance. I am glad I did after reading the horrid stories on here telling of the lack of help ncma members get from their insurers

I've used both NCMA and MM contracts and found MM easier to understand and no jargon. I've also used both sets of paperwork and prefer MM, however MM's (new smaller) folders are rubbish, they always seem to open and spill the paperwork everywhere...

I joined NCMA this year as a member because I wanted to see what they offer and i think I got 4 magazines a year (and that's it!) for over 60 quid. All the meeting etc are too far away to attend even if I did have a car to get out in the evening. I won't be renewing my membership in March

[Blaze]

I am an NCMA member, but now have my PLI insurance with MM, having previously used NCMA insurance - MM have better opening hours (for example were open between Christmas & new Year, whereas NCMA were not) & are more helpful when a parent doesn't pay...NCMA are looking to improve this service in the Spring / Summer.
HTH

[Lems]

This is all giving me much to think about as until this forum I had only ever heard/been told of NCMA and strongly advised by tutor of DHC that NCMA is the only one worth considering as they ONLY deal with CM and their insurance is tailored just for CM. He dissmissed MM (He actually is a tutor/assessor/Iv-NVQ/DHC and his wife's registered assisstant) Looking at the poll though so far mainly use MM

[manjay]

I have my PLI with MM but am very definitely a member of NCMA. Two very different things. In my opinion (and yes it may not be everyones) it is an integral part of being a self employed person to belong to a professional association. It means something to me and also my parents. I get alot out of being a member but I also put a lot in. It enables me to be an accredited childminder and to provide community childminding places. Plus the endless opportunities I have for training.

The whole of Wales is one region so I will often attend forums the other end of the country. I agree that may not be for everyone but as I am Treasurer I like to make the effort. Having said that the 3 forums each year are spread out around the country so everyone should be able to attend at least one.

Yes NCMA is not perfect but I am a firm believer that I don't have the right to moan about something unless I am prepared to do something about it. Which is what I am trying to do

[manjay]

This is all giving me much to think about as until this forum I had only ever heard/been told of NCMA and strongly advised by tutor of DHC that NCMA is the only one worth considering as they ONLY deal with CM and their insurance is tailored just for CM. He dissmissed MM (He actually is a tutor/assessor/Iv-NVQ/DHC and his wife's registered assisstant) Looking at the poll though so far mainly use MM

It is probably part of his remit to promote NCMA. You do however need to understand what it is you are looking for. Both companies offer public liability insurance and you can choose whichever suits you. Irrespective of which PLI you have you can still become a member of NCMA which (as has been said above) the National association that supports childminders.

Good luck in your decision.

[tulip0803]

I have my PLI with MM but am very definitely a member of NCMA. Two very different things. In my opinion (and yes it may not be everyones) it is an integral part of being a self employed person to belong to a professional association. It means something to me and also my parents. I get alot out of being a member ... Plus the endless opportunities I have for training.

As Manjay says I am proud to be a member of the NCMA and have always been and always will be a member. Although not as involved as she is but that is my choice.

I also have my PLI through MM as I have weighed up the pros and cons and MM has won out - however as Sarah said NCMA are looking at changing ther PLI policies this year so I will make a decision when I now what they are.

[Lems]

Thank you all so much for your input, gosh your all so well informed and 'speak' in a way I can understand thanks again, some decision making now. Lx

[Pipsqueak]

I just posted and its disappered!

I have always been with NCMA and found their 'legal' advice to be sorely lacking, and in a recent experience they gave me totally wrong and inaccurate advicce. Their car insurace is astronomical as well. I am a firm believer in complaining so things can be rectified and changed.

i will give NCMA credit though - when i complained it was resolved quickly and satisfactorily. However i am still considering going over to MM for my insurance but keeping NCMA membership

NCMA needs a good shake and wake up (which can only happen if its current members and ex members let them know what is wrong with their service).


put into the forum search engine NCMA and you should get lots of results - likewise for MM.

I enjoy attending the regional meetings and forums as well - though you can do this as well if you are MM.

[rickysmiths]

As Manjay says I am proud to be a member of the NCMA and have always been and always will be a member. Although not as involved as she is but that is my choice.

I also have my PLI through MM as I have weighed up the pros and cons and MM has won out - however as Sarah said NCMA are looking at changing ther PLI policies this year so I will make a decision when I now what they are.

I don't think they are changing their Pub lib Ins. It is the solicitors they use for the Legal Line that I think are being changed.

[Pipsqueak]

I don't think they are changing their Pub lib Ins. It is the solicitors they use for the Legal Line that I think are being changed.

here is hoping

[tulip0803]

I don't think they are changing their Pub lib Ins. It is the solicitors they use for the Legal Line that I think are being changed.

In that case I will stay an NCMA member but my PLI will stay with MM

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I've always used MM for insurance. I am glad I did after reading the horrid stories on here telling of the lack of help ncma members get from their insurers

I've used both NCMA and MM contracts and found MM easier to understand and no jargon. I've also used both sets of paperwork and prefer MM, however MM's (new smaller) folders are rubbish, they always seem to open and spill the paperwork everywhere...

I joined NCMA this year as a member because I wanted to see what they offer and i think I got 4 magazines a year (and that's it!) for over 60 quid. All the meeting etc are too far away to attend even if I did have a car to get out in the evening. I won't be renewing my membership in March

Did you use the website? There are discounts available for food such as Asda? Did you vote at the Annual Conference?

Not having a go just wondered if you accessed what you have access to

[jo.jo76]

So glad I have just read this! Once I receive my registration certificate I was going to get my insurance with NCMA, I will now have a look at MM.
Thank you

Jo