NCMA tells its childminding story

(Photograph) - More than three in five registered childminders in England have undertaken training in the past 12 months, the National Childminding Association (NCMA) said last week at the start of National Childminding Week, part of Sure Start Month in England. The NCMA highlighted the fact that independent research for the Department for Education and Skills had found that 61 per cent of childminders had had some training in the past 12 months, compared with 41 per cent in 2001. The proportion of childminders reported as holding any relevant qualification has risen from 34 per cent in 2001 to 64 per cent in 2003. The theme of this year's National Childminding Week was 'Grow up' and it highlighted how childminders provide children with early experiences of learning in a fun and imaginative way. To celebrate storytelling, three leading children's authors - (back row, from second left) Nicolas Allen, Faustin Charles and Paul Geraghty - went to Legoland Windsor on 19 June at the launch of the week by the model of author Hans Christian Andersen. They were joined by (front row, from left) TV presenter Paul Hendy, president of the National Childminding Association Dr Penelope Leach, and NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes, as well as Lisa Black, Legoland major accounts manager (back left) and her daughters.