Working with networks
An
effective way of working with childminders is through an approved
childminding network, with the network coordinator becoming a
full member of the centre’s team.
The coordinator can contribute to decision-making about the care
and support offered to children and parents using the centre. Their
knowledge of the childminders on the network can be
invaluable in helping create positive placements for children
and families.
Network childminders can work alongside the centre staff to
ensure that they are fully integrated in the work of the centre.
Government guidance suggests that network childminders should have
access to centre facilities, such as toy libraries, meeting rooms,
vacancy coordination schemes and training sessions.
Free early years education
Many network childminders are already accredited to deliver
early years education places alongside childcare places and
networks can support childminders to work towards this
accreditation. This could help your children's
centre meet its requirement to provide
121/2 hours of free early years
education for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Working with childminding networks
If an NCMA Children Come First (CCF) childminding network
already exists within your centre’s reach, you may be able to
integrate it into your centre’s services. The network coordinator
can either recruit registered childminders in your area to join the
network and provide additional places or, if existing network
members have vacancies, assign these for the centre’s use only.
If an NCMA Children Come First network does not yet exist
in your centre’s catchment area, or those already there are being
fully used, you can work with NCMA (through a service level
agreement) to establish one. Contact your local NCMA office for more
information or visit the Children Come First website at www.ncmaccf.org.uk (external
link).
*Some informal groups of childminders may describe themselves as
networks. If you are looking to provide early education using
accredited childminders you need to make sure you're working with a
robust network such as CCF.