MPs show support for childminders
Sarah Teather, the Minister for State
for Children and Families and her Shadow Cabinet counterpart,
Sharon Hodgson, offered warm words of encouragement to registered
childminders and nannies celebrating National Childminding Week
last week.
Minister for Children, Sarah Teather MP, left, said,
"I know the esteem in which childminders and nannies are held by
families throughout the country, giving the young children in their
care a great start in life and the opportunity to thrive and
flourish.
"This chimes perfectly with your chosen theme of aspiration. My
very best wishes for a successful week of events to celebrate and
promote the benefits of home-based childcare."
Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon
Hodgson MP, right, said, "All the evidence shows that what
happens in the early years shapes every aspect of how a child grows
and develops as a person; in many cases we can tell how well a
pupil will do in their GCSEs and beyond by the time they start in
Reception. That is why encouraging aspiration at a young age is
crucial, and so I am very pleased that NCMA has chosen it as the
theme for this week.
"Childminding has come on a lot since I trained as one over 15
years ago, largely because of the recognition of how important a
role it is – not just in allowing parents to go out and work, but
also in helping shape a child’s future. National Childminding Week
gives us a great focus for that recognition, and I am delighted to
support it."
Cross-party support at parties
Several MPs and AMs (in Wales) attended National Childminding
Week events across the country, a selection are shown below. If you
have any pictures of your National Childminding Week event, please
send them in to whominds@ncma.org.uk.
Nic Dakin, MP for Scunthorpe, visited a childminder in his
constituency and read to her minded children.
Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP, Gordon
Henderson joined children and their childminder to celebrate
National Childminding Week.
Dominic Grieve, MP for Beaconsfield
and the Attorney General, visited childminders in his constituency
during National Childminding Week.
Mark Tami MP, right, visited Wendy
Murray at Strawberry Patch Childminding in Abermorddu,
Caergwrle on Friday 10th June. He joined in with the theme of
aspirations, with Elinor who is aspiring to be a doctor. She
very kindly bandaged his arm.
(l-r) Nerys Affleck, NCMA Cymru
Development worker; Mark Isherwood AM, North Wales; Gill Jones,
NCMA Cymru Network coordinator; and Antoinette Sandbach, AM North
Wales.
Mark and Antoinette visited the Flintshire
Childminders at Fantastic Funhouse soft play in Mold.
Julie Morgan, Assembly Member for
Cardiff North, joined 25 childminders and 32 children at JUMP play
centre in Cardiff to celebrate National Childminding Week.