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:
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