What is a Childminder
A ‘Childminder’ is a person who provides a childminding service as defined in the Regulations.
A 'Childminding service’ means a pre-school service, which may include an overnight service, offered by a person who single-handedly takes care of pre-school children, including the childminder’s own children, in the childminder’s home for a total of more than 2 hours per day, except where the exemptions provided in Section 58 of the Child Care Act 1991 apply.
Childminders caring for more than three pre-school children who are not of the same family are covered by the Child Care (Pre-school Service) Regulations 1996 and should notify to the HSE. Childminders caring for more than three children are subject to inspection.
Childminders who are not covered by the regulations should voluntary notify the Childminding Advisory Officer. Childminders caring for three children or less are not subject to inspection, but may receive an annual advisory support visit.
Are You Thinking About Becoming A Childminder
Childminding is a recognised career and in Offaly childminders have the opportunity to voluntary notify their service and avail of supports provided by Offaly County Childcare Committee. Childminders can receive information, advice and support through the Childminder Advisory Officer and Offaly County Childcare Committee
Childminding Advisory Officer
The Childminding Advisory Officer's role is
- To provide a free support system for Childminders caring for 3 or fewer children
- To provide advisory visits to Childminders homes
- To promote voluntary notification
- To provide information and training for Childminders
Childminders who voluntary notify, receive home visits from the Childminding Advisory Officer and can avail of ongoing support.
On an advisory visit to the home the Childminder Advisory Officer reviews the self- evaluation completed by the Childminder as per National Guidelines for Childminders.
The Childminding Advisory Officer for Offaly can be contacted at HSE Early Years Service, Tullamore. Tel 057 9370630.
Setting Up A Childminding Service
Research the Need
As with all types of childcare services, childminders intending to set up should explore the need in their area by looking at a number of factors including
- Existing services in the area by type of service provided i.e. pre-school, full day-care and other childminders
- Population of pre-school and afterschool children in the area
- Local employment trends
- Information from parents, others in the area regarding gaps/needs
Consider Your Own Family Circumstances
Before a person decides to set up a Childminding Service they should consider the full impact providing a childcare service from their home will have on their family and themselves.
Childminding in the home will impact on your own children's routine, they will now have to share you and their home with other children.
If after considering the above you are still interested in pursuing a childminding career, the following is a short guide to setting up
- Contact the Childminding Advisory Officer who will arrange to meet with you.
- Access a copy of the National Guidelines for Childminders, either by downloading them or by getting a free copy from Offaly County Childcare or the Childminding Advisory Officer.
- Consider how much space you have available in your home and garden. Plan out where the children will play, eat and sleep.
- Consider the age range of children that you are going to cater for in order to help you plan age and stage appropriate programmes and activities, and to purchase age and stage appropriate equipment, toys and materials.
- Decide whether you are going to voluntary notify or notify your service to the HSE.
- Access training which will help you with your childminding service. The Quality Awareness Programme (Introduction to Childminding) which is a short 8 week course will give you an insight into what it means to run your own childminding service.
- Draft up policies and procedures for your service to include Child Protection, Child Development, Outings, Accident and Incidents, Behaviour Management, Drop-off and Collection policies. This list is not exhaustive and the Childminding Advisory Officer and/or a staff member of Offaly County Childcare Committee will support you with this task.
- Draft up records for your service to include a Child Registration Form, Contracts, Daily Activity Records etc. This list is not exhaustive and the Childminding Advisory Officer and/or a staff member of Offaly County Childcare Committee will support you with this task.
- Advertise your service locally.
- Contact Offaly County Childcare Committee to be included in the Directory of Childcare Services which is distributed to parents.
Voluntary Notification
The Child Care Act 1991 provides for the care and protection of children and for related matters. Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991 applies to the Supervision of Pre-School Services. In Section 58, it outlines the exemptions to Part VII of Child Care Act 1991.
Section 58 of the Child Care Act 1991 – “For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the provisions of this part shall not apply to-
(a) the care of one or more pre-school children undertaken by a relative of the child or children of the spouse of such relative,
(b) a person taking care of one or more pre-school children of same family and no other such children (other than that person’s own such children) in that person’s home,
(c ) a person taking care of not more than 3 pre- school children of different families (other than that person’s own such children) in that person’s home”.
Childminders caring for three or less pre-school Children can voluntary notify their Childminding Service i.e. voluntarily inform the Childminder Advisory Officer that they are providing a Childminding service in their own home.
Voluntary notified Childminders receive advice and support from the Childminding Advisory Officer and receive information, training, networking opportunities and Childminder Development Grants through Offaly County Childcare Committee. Voluntary Notified Childminders agree to work within the National Guidelines for Childminders.
To voluntary notify your Childminding service, please contact the Childminding Advisory Officer on 057 9370630.
Quality Awareness Programme
The Quality Awareness Programme is an introductory or refresher course designed to provide support concerning the role of the childminder. Participants will be encouraged to regard the course as a stepping-stone to other more comprehensive training programmes. Participation on the Quality Awareness Programme is open to all childminders.
The course is delivered over a number of weeks and covers topics such as child development, child well-being, play, hygiene and health and safety. Following completion of a QAP, childminders can go on, if they so wish, to pursue further recognised qualifications via Offaly County Childcare Committee or avail of other accredited training options.
The main objectives of the QAP are to:
- Provide participants with an awareness of the issues involved in the provision of a quality childminder service
- Enhance the knowledge, skills and professional status of childminders
- Develop the childminder’s confidence and motivation
- Encourage networking with childminders in the locality
- Assist Childminders to sign up to the National Guidelines for Childminders, Voluntary Notification System
- Increase awareness of “good practice” in running a childminding service in your home
- Increase the awareness of the supports available in Offaly.
Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of attendance. Contact the Childminding Advisory Officer for details of upcoming courses, phone 057 9370630.
Congratulations to Childminding Quality Awareness Programme Participants
On 22nd June 2011, HSE Childminder Advisory Officer Service and Offaly County Childcare Committee awarded certificates of attendance to sixteen people who recently completed the Quality Awareness Programme in Tullamore.
Supports Available For Childminders
Information
Childminders regularly receive information via post from the Childminder Advisory Officer and Offaly County Childcare Committee.
Childminder Publications such as 'National Guidelines for Childminders', 'Childminder Newsletters', 'Information Leaflets' and 'Childminder's Support Pack' are developed and / or purchased for Childminders to support Childminders.
Networking
Childminders are invited to attend the Childcare Forum which meets three times a year. Topics at the Forum are discussed in small groups and childminders have the opportunity to form their own groups within the Forum. Forum meetings give childminders the opportunity to network with other childminders for support. Forum meetings are held once every term. For details on the next Forum please contact Offaly County Childcare Committee.
Training
Offaly County Childcare Committee organises and subsidises the following training course, which notified or voluntary notified childminders can avail of
- Children First Child Protection Training
Professional Development
To meet the expressed needs of the childcare sector Offaly County Childcare Committee periodically organises workshops on the following topics
- Managing Challenging Behaviour
- Arts and Crafts
- Record Keeping
- Managing a Business
- Music and Movement
- Play
- Programme Planning
For details on upcoming networking events please see the Training Calendar or contact Offaly County Childcare Committee on 057 9370630.
National Guidelines
The National Guidelines for Childminders will assist childminders by providing guidance for good practice in the area of childminding.
They contain details on:
- nationally agreed guidelines for good childminding practice;
- detailed information on Statutory Notification to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Voluntary Notification;
- services provided to childminders by the City/County Childcare Committees, the Childminding Advisory Officers and Childminding Ireland;
- contact details of relevant organisations, including addresses and telephone numbers.
Download a copy of the National Guidelines for Childminders - Revised August 2008 using the link below www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc
Childminder Support Pack
The Childminding Advisory Officer in conjunction with Offaly County Childcare Committee has developed a Childminder Support Pack for Voluntary Notification for Offaly Childminders. The Pack aims to support Childminders to provide a quality Childminding Service and compliments the voluntary notification process and the National Guidelines for Childminders.
The Support pack contains sample Childminding Policies & Procedures, Record Keeping Forms and an Information Booklet for Childminders.
If you would like to receive a Childminder Support Pack, please contact the Childminder Advisory Officer on 057 9370630.
Childminder Representatives
There are currently two childminder representatives on Offaly County Childcare Committee's Childminding Working Group. The aim of the working group is to advise Offaly County Childcare Committee on actions and supports required by childminders. Meetings take place approximately five times a year. Reports and recommendations are fed back to the Board of Offaly County Childcare Committee after each meeting. Current childminder representatives are Bernie Carroll and Jackie Gleeson from Banagher. Bernie and Jackie are both voluntary notified childminders and have been childminding for a number of years. Both have completed QQI Childcare Level 5 & 6 training with Offaly County Childcare Committee and are available to support newly established childminders.
Bernie and Jackie can be contacted through Offaly County Childcare Committee on 057 9135878.
