Merton and Sutton councils were awarded £130,000 for a project that will improve the quality and capacity of childminding in the boroughs, as part of a £4m pilot announced by the Government last month (News, 7 April).
The local authorities made a joint bid for the funding to ensure that by 2013, the most disadvantaged two-year-olds can receive 15 hours of childcare a week.
The funding will be available to develop childminding in the St Helier area, one of the largest housing estates in London and one of the 20 per cent most deprived areas in the country.
Gianna Lee, acting head of Extended Services and Early Years at Sutton, said, 'We're excited about working with this group of childminders. We think it's a great way forward for offering the number of two-year-old places needed.
'Currently there are around 60 places available for two-year-old children who fulfil the criteria, but this is set to grow and the aim is to add another 30 places this year. We are working our way towards the target of 300 places by 2013.'
Merton has a similar number of children to place across the borough by 2013.
Ms Lee said, 'We know the population in the area is on the increase and our settings that are delivering the three- and four-year-old places are already at capacity. So we have had to think how can we increase capacity and create more high-quality places. Rather than putting two-year-olds into already squeezed provision, we will use the funding to build capacity in the childminding sector, and particularly covering that area.
'We border three local authorities, so we're constantly exploring opportunities where we can work together. Both Sutton and Merton have capacity issues and share this area of disadvantage.'
There are around 300 childminders in her borough but none of them are offering any free entitlement places because there is no accredited network there.
'We're developing our own accreditation for childminders across Merton and Sutton,' said Ms Lee. She said that childminders are able to apply for bursaries to improve their qualifications. 'We've paid for around 50 childminders to do the new level 3 diploma. We offer a distance learning programme for childminders that is heavily subsidised.'
