Consultations

The National Childminding Association regularly responds to consultations. Details of our live consultations and current responses to consultations are listed below. For more information about NCMA's consultations, please contact Tim Farrow.

Use your voice!

If you're a member of NCMA, you can log into MyNCMA and discover My Voice. This is your area to air your views and help inform NCMA's response to ongoing consultations. You can answer the questions posed by government and other bodies, and help NCMA lobby on your behalf. Check out My Voice now.

Recent consultation responses
Ofsted consultation NCMA has responded to Ofsted's consultation on the way it registers and inspects early years providers. The consultation followed the recent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage by Dame Clare Tickell. The changes to the Ofsted programme will coincide with the introduction of the revised EYFS in September. You can view the Ofsted consultation document here and also NCMA's response here.
Consultation on the delivery of the Free Entitlement NCMA has submitted a response to the Department for Education consultation on how practitioners should be able to deliver free early education for 2-, 3- and 4-year-old children. The response was clear that the current proposal being put forward by the Department for Education rely too heavily on the Ofsted inspection process to drive quality improvement, particularly as more and more local authorities are reducing the quality improvement support that providers have relied on in the past. It also highlights our concern that current funding arrangements for delivering the places mean childminders face a drop in funding when a 2-year-old in their setting turns 3. Read the full response here.
NCMA response to consultation on childminder registration as businesses NCMA has argued in response to a Food Standards Agency consultation on the current requirement for childminders to register as food businesses that it is not appropriate for childminders to be grouped under the same regulations as other food businesses, such as takeaways. NCMA is supporting an alternative model, which would mean childminders comply with food hygiene legislation by completing an approved training course. Read the full response here.
Nutbrown review NCMA response to the Call for Evidence for the Independent Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications NCMA has responded to the Call for Evidence for the Independent Review, led by Professor Cathy Nutbrown, that is examining how to strengthen training, qualifications and career pathways in childcare and early learning. NCMA argues that the Government should move beyond the "aspiration" for childcare practitioners to achieve a minimum Level 3 qualification and work towards implementing the practical delivery of the policy. In the paper NCMA proposes that new applicant childminders should be required to pass an introductory childcare course and complete safeguarding training prior to registration. In addition, NCMA highlights that qualifications need to encourage improved inter-sectoral movement of the workforce, allowing practitioners to move between settings. You can read the NCMA response here. NCMA has been working closely with the review team since their project was announcement last year. NCMA secured the first 1-1 meeting with Professor Nutbrown and has holding further meetings with the Review team at their request. NCMA has attended the regional roundtable events, issued a formal response to the review call for evidence and also supported members to do so. Furthermore, the review team will be attending the next National Policy Forum meeting to share emerging proposals.
Communities First A response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on the future of the Communities First programme from NCMA Cymru. 08/12/2011
NCMA's response to the Department for Education (DfE) consultation on a Revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). 28/10/2011

Recent consultation responses

Ofsted consultation

NCMA has responded to Ofsted's consultation on the way it registers and inspects early years providers. The consultation followed the recent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage by Dame Clare Tickell. The changes to the Ofsted programme will coincide with the introduction of the revised EYFS in September. You can view the Ofsted consultation document here and also NCMA's response here.

Consultation on the delivery of the Free Entitlement

NCMA has submitted a response to the Department for Education consultation on how practitioners should be able to deliver free early education for 2-, 3- and 4-year-old children. The response was clear that the current proposal being put forward by the Department for Education rely too heavily on the Ofsted inspection process to drive quality improvement, particularly as more and more local authorities are reducing the quality improvement support that providers have relied on in the past. It also highlights our concern that current funding arrangements for delivering the places mean childminders face a drop in funding when a 2-year-old in their setting turns 3.

Read the full response here.

NCMA response to consultation on childminder registration as businesses

NCMA has argued in response to a Food Standards Agency consultation on the current requirement for childminders to register as food businesses that it is not appropriate for childminders to be grouped under the same regulations as other food businesses, such as takeaways. NCMA is supporting an alternative model, which would mean childminders comply with food hygiene legislation by completing an approved training course.

Read the full response here.

Nutbrown review

NCMA response to the Call for Evidence for the Independent Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications

NCMA has responded to the Call for Evidence for the Independent Review, led by Professor Cathy Nutbrown, that is examining how to strengthen training, qualifications and career pathways in childcare and early learning.

NCMA argues that the Government should move beyond the "aspiration" for childcare practitioners to achieve a minimum Level 3 qualification and work towards implementing the practical delivery of the policy.

In the paper NCMA proposes that new applicant childminders should be required to pass an introductory childcare course and complete safeguarding training prior to registration. In addition, NCMA highlights that qualifications need to encourage improved inter-sectoral movement of the workforce, allowing practitioners to move between settings.

You can read the NCMA response here.

NCMA has been working closely with the review team since their project was announcement last year. NCMA secured the first 1-1 meeting with Professor Nutbrown and has holding further meetings with the Review team at their request. NCMA has attended the regional roundtable events, issued a formal response to the review call for evidence and also supported members to do so. Furthermore, the review team will be attending the next National Policy Forum meeting to share emerging proposals.

Communities First

A response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on the future of the Communities First programme from NCMA Cymru.

08/12/2011

NCMA's response to the Department for Education (DfE) consultation on a Revised Early Years

Foundation Stage (EYFS).

28/10/2011

Page last updated: 4/27/2012