Funding of 10m a year for 2004/05 and 2005/06 will cover recruiting scheme co-ordinators, training and administration.
The Department for Education and Skills has commissioned the National Childminding Association (NCMA) to run a project pilot in seven areas across England, following research that found new childminders were most likely to drop out during their first year, mainly because of a lack of individual support.
New childminders will be linked to an experienced practitioner for one-to-one support in Medway, Enfield, Lewisham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds. These areas were chosen for their high number of lone parents.
Sue Sprott, the NCMA's support childminding project co-ordinator, said, 'New childminders only seem to meet new childminders. This is about peer support. A lot of people don't know how to market their business.'
She said the initial pilot, set up in Medway at the beginning of last year, had already shown a marked improvement in recruitment and retention rates.
Each pilot area will now employ two scheme co-ordinators to recruit 30 to 45 experienced childminders to support new and prospective childminders during pre-registration, registration and for up to a year afterwards.
It is expected that the support childminders will be matched with five to ten new recruits. Support may include giving advice by phone or e-mail, accompanying them to local drop-ins, and giving business advice on advertising vacancies, drawing up contracts and registering attendance.
Childminders taking part in the pilot areas will be paid 500 a year in instalments, but it will be up to each local authority to set up its own reward scheme when the project is rolled out.
The NCMA and the Sure Start Unit are running joint seminars on the project for lead officers from Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships, Children's Information Services and other agencies wanting to be involved in running similar peer support schemes. The information days in Manchester on 24 February, Birmingham on 26 February and London on 27 February cost 60 plus VAT. Contact Erica Morgan at the NCMA on 01344 868 035 or e-mail Erica.morgan@ncma.org.uk.