Take twos... supporting childminders to develop their skills

Sutton and Merton were among 18 local authorities funded to trial new approaches to delivering the free entitlement for two-year-olds in 2011 to 2012. Both recognised childminders would be a significant partner in the provision of two-year-old places and agreed they were well-placed to support parents with community links and provide a model of integrated family support.

The area of St Helier and some bordering smaller communities were the focus of the trial, as it sits across a shared boundary in both boroughs and had identified needs.

We were commissioned to develop the training programme to support childminders in developing the confidence, skills, capacity and quality needed to offer these important places for eligible two-year-olds. The training programme was piloted in autumn 2011, and reviewed and delivered again in spring 2012.

The bespoke training builds on the basic and core training already available locally. It is linked closely to key characteristics of two-year-olds and the three primary areas of learning highlighted by Dame Clare Tickell's review of the EYFS.

It also provides opportunities for childminders to share their expertise with other childminders across the two boroughs. In modular format, training can be delivered as short weekly sessions over a number of weeks or condensed into longer sessions on weekends to suit individual needs. Merton Borough Council is now becoming a recognised Open College Network London Region Centre, so the programme can be offered as an accredited course from September 2012.

Childminders found the training useful in preparing them to meet the needs of disadvantaged two-year-olds.

Typical comments included: 'I feel I have been given extra pointers and in-depth knowledge of topics I had covered on my common skills course. It made me realise how important this phase of life is and was really useful in giving me the confidence to raise issues if needed.'

So far, the project has achieved an impressive collection of outcomes. A total of 48 childminders attended the two pilot courses, doubling the available places provided for two-year-olds by childminders across the boundary in the St Helier area. More than a quarter of the childminders attending the programme went on to complete the Incredible Years training and four childminders chose to become part of the Quality Improvement Network in Sutton to deliver the free entitlement for threeand four-yearolds as well.

Further information

James Hempsall is director of training and research provider Hempsalls (www.hempsalls.com)