Nursery World - Childminders and children's centres link up

Almost 90 per cent of children's centres are working with registered childminders in their area, according to research carried out by the National Childminding Association (NCMA). The survey, in which the NCMA spoke to 101 of a possible 839 children's centres, was commissioned by the DfES last year. The results pointed to positive partnership working, with one in seven centres in contact with local childminding networks. However, only a third could confirm that they worked with a quality-assured network.

The survey, in which the NCMA spoke to 101 of a possible 839 children's centres, was commissioned by the DfES last year. The results pointed to positive partnership working, with one in seven centres in contact with local childminding networks. However, only a third could confirm that they worked with a quality-assured network.

Over 80 per cent of children's centres involved childminders in the training they provided for their own staff and the majority of centres asked childminders to participate in parent training.

NCMAchief executive Liz Bayram said, 'Registered childminders are increasingly becoming involved with their local children's centres, either through drop-in groups, training days or as a part of the centre's core offer of services. This is a real sign that centres are working well with voluntary and private providers.'

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