Background
Childminder support services are provided by the Childminding Development Team within the Learning and School Effectiveness Service based at Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury.
Services offered to all childminders
- A telephone helpline to all prospective or registered childminders
- An answerphone service will be available outside office hours where you can leave a message
- A training programme that reflects the training needs of childminders
- Business support
- Liaison with OfSTED on issues relating to childminding
- Specific documents available to support and develop a childminder's practice
- Regular newsletters updating childminders with current issues
- Support for childminders to become quality assured
- SureStart childcare places funding may be available to those existing childminders creating more than six registered childcare places
- SureStart childcare places funding may be available for those moving into South Gloucestershire, creating new childcare places
- Pro-active work with childminders to support children's centres and the extended schools agenda
- Support with working to meet EYFS requirements
- Support with risk assessments and identifying other local childminders in your area
Services offered to new childminders
- A 'Support childminder scheme' where existing, experienced childminders are contracted to support their newly-registered colleagues. These support childminders are known as 'lead childminders'
- SureStart childcare places funding may be available for prospective childminders applying for registration in South Gloucestershire, creating childcare places in areas where there is a shortfall of provision
- Support is available from the childminding support team for those requiring assistance when completing the grant forms
- Support sessions
Services offered to childminding groups
- Support and training for existing childminding groups and support to develop new groups where appropriate
- Support given to the childminder's toy library in South Gloucestershire
Additional support services for childminders
We offer support visits to all childminders prior to Ofsted carrying out a graded inspection. Telephone support for all childminders will continue and training sessions will focus on the preparation for Ofsted inspections. Additionally we will be offering support visits to all new childminders who will be experiencing their first graded inspection. This support will also be offered to the more experienced childminders who may need general support and those wanting ideas on how to develop their practice.
The Childminding Development Team has created the following documents especially for childminders in South Gloucestershire to support them through the graded inspection process:
- Risk assessment form and guidelines on undertaking risk assessments
- Requirements, recommendations and good practice framework
- Self-evaluation sheets and guidelines on self-evaluation and grading your practice
Ofsted have also produced an Early Years Self-Evaluation (SEF) document (complete with guidance) and should be read in conjunction with 'Are you ready for your inspection?' You can access these in the 'Other websites' section of this page.
Latest news
Since 1 April 2005 the Childminding Development Workers have supported childminders in South Gloucestershire to achieve 16 ‘outstanding’ inspection reports and 126 ‘good’ inspection reports, as graded by Ofsted. The number of childminders judged ‘outstanding’ in South Gloucestershire is higher than the current England average.
The hard work and dedication of the development workers has directly contributed to improving childminding services for the residents of South Gloucestershire Council and the children that attend those settings. The quality of this work can be seen in the inspection outcomes.
The team has had a significant impact in improving the standards of childcare for childminders in South Gloucestershire and work hard to promote the role of childminders in providing a valuable service to parents requiring flexible high quality childcare.
More information
For further details on any of the above information or if you require a support visit please contact the Children and Young People Information Service on 01454 868008 and ask for a member of the Childminding Development Team or email them at childminding@southglos.gov.uk