For many, childminding networks are the answer, not just to help ease any feelings of isolation but also to access training, and ongoing development of good practice.
A childminding network is a formal group of registered childminders with a dedicated, paid, network co-ordinator. They have been set up primarily by Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships, but they have also been organised by Sure Start Programmes and colleges and employers seeking to offer students and employees subsidised childcare. Funding for some networks has also come from New Deal for Communities and the European Social Fund.
Many of the networks have or are planning to become Children Come First childminding networks by completing the NCMA quality assurance scheme. To become accredited, the co-ordinator assumes a mentoring role for the individual childminders, supporting them, assessing and regularly monitoring the practice of all the network childminders to nationally approved standards set out in the NCMA Quality Childminding Charter. The co-ordinator:
* ensures the childminders access suitable training
* provides a link between parent and childminder
* operates a toy library and equipment loan scheme.
There are two kinds of approved network, the standard and the early years approved, which enable network members to provide the Foundation Stage curriculum and so access the education grant available to three-and four-year-olds.
There are currently 60 Children Come First networks, with another 70 in the process of becoming accredited.
The Association's national childminding network and quality assurance officer Chris Evans believes the quality assurance scheme, with its ongoing monitoring and promotion of good practice, will leave networks well placed to respond to the forthcoming Investors in Children, a star rating scheme to indicate quality of provision.
'It is an added value that hasn't been appreciated up to now,' she says.
Lisa Harris and Catherine Collins work as co-ordinators of the Sussex Downs network, based at Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne, where they run two daytime drop-in sessions for childminders and children.
Lisa says, 'We also run an evening drop-in. They can come along and talk about any problems they might have, or discuss training or seek advice.
'Some students at the college are teenage mums and we help find them childminders so they can continue with their education.
'We run the Introduction to Childminding Practice (ICP) training here. We are working towards accredited approval. Later this year we will be going on a curriculum planning and Foundation Stage course and then we will be able to cascade that down.'
Sure Start
The NCMA believes that childminding networks are an ideal vehicle to support Sure Start, as their members live in the communities targeted by the scheme and can meet its key objectives:
* Improving children's social and emotional development
* Improving children's health
* Improving children's ability to learn
* Strengthening families and communities.
Networks are run as collaborative programmes in many of the country's most deprived areas. Jan O'Brien, NCMA development manager (London NorthWest) explains that a three-year project which began in January is to set up a 40-strong childminding network in Haringey from scratch, with funding from Family Housing Association, New Deal for Communities and Sure Start.
A great deal of groundwork has to be done to make contacts with potential recruits and it will be the responsibility of network co-ordinator Sue Mustill to source, train and support the new childminders. So far five childminders have completed the ICP, while eight others have applied to Ofsted for registration.
Jan O'Brien says of the fledgling network, 'It's reaching people and giving an opportunity to women who may not otherwise have come forward or considered getting into childcare.'