Joining a network
If
you join an NCMA Children Come First network you'll benefit
from:
The support of your network coordinator
Your network coordinator is on hand to help you make the most of
your business. They can offer practical help with filling
vacancies, arranging alternative care for the children when you are
sick or on holiday, and operating a toy or equipment library.
But, even more importantly, they can help you develop your
service and get the most from your childminding career. Not many
self-employed business-people have the luxury of having a mentor to
turn to who can offer them training, one-to-one support and
advice.
Having visits from your network coordinator can also be a
real selling point when talking to parents, as you can easily show
that the service you offer is regularly checked, something that can
help reassure parents looking for the best care for their
children.
Peer support
Joining a network gives you a great opportunity to meet other
childminders in your area so you'll benefit from support from your
peers as well as your network coordinator.
Training
Recent research shows that childminders on approved networks
take much more training than those not on a network, all of which
can help you develop your childminding career.
Quality assurance
If your network holds NCMA Children Come First approval you'll
have an easy way of showing parents that you are offering a very
high standard of care for their child because the network has been
quality assured.
New opportunities
Many childminding networks offer services over and above
straightforward childcare, providing support to families and the
local community.
For example, only accredited childminders who belong to an NCMA
Children Come First network can offer government-funded early
education sessions, while more and more networks will be
working as a central part of local schools, children's centres and
integrated children's centres. Joining a network can give you a
good way of getting involved with these exciting new
initiatives.
Other networks offer different services, depending on what's
needed in their area. At the moment, there are
networks:
- caring for the children of teenage parents as they take
qualifications.
- specialising in caring for disabled children.
- offering care at unusual hours, for hospital staff or
airlines.
- developing experienced network childminders to become
"support childminders" who mentor new childminders in their first
year after registration.