SERVICES TO PARENTS
Help is at hand from the NICMA - the Childminding Association
who have over 25 years experience of providing information
and advice on all aspects of quality childminding services.
In order to provide children with quality childcare and learning,
the NICMA Quality Childminding Charter requires childminders
who are members to work towards 10 quality standards:
Click
here to view Quality Childminding Charter WHY
CHOOSE CHILDMINDING FOR YOUR CHILD?
There are many benefits to choosing childminding as your
preferred daycare option.
Benefits to your children
- Children benefit from the value of the home as a place
in which a child can feel comfortable and secure
- The family environment with familiar surroundings
- The one-to-one care and special relationship from the
same adult on a daily basis
- The individual attention provided by the Childminder is
a positive factor in supporting children's learning
- The love and affection provided by the Childminder and
their family
Benefits to parents
- Flexibility and choice in hours of care to meet parents
individual and changing needs
- Children are cared for within their own community, thereby
avoiding stressful commuter journeys
- Parents and children develop a trusting relationship with
the Childminder ensuring that the care provided is appropriate
to the needs of their child
- Childminders can provide continuity of care from the age
of a few months right up to school age and beyond
- Childminders can facilitate attendance at local after
school activities
- Registered childcare which is eligible for the Childcare
element of the Working Tax Credit
Quality Childminding Standards
The quality assurance of childminding provision for children
under 12 years begins with registration and inspection to
minimum standards as set out in the Children (NI) Order 1995
and associated Regulations and Guidance. Childminders are
inspected annually by the Health and Social Services Trust
and for those childminders who are NICMA members, the NICMA
Quality Childminding Charter recommends childminders to work
towards specific quality standards.
Childminding Information and Vacancy Service
We offer a FREE information helpline to assist parents in
choosing the most suitable Childminder and keeping that relationship
going. Our CHILDMINDING INFORMATION AND VACANCY helpline on
028 9181 1015 is open Mon - Thu 9.30am - 4.00pm and Fri 9.30am
- 1.00pm and offers information on all aspects of childminding
including registration, fees, contracts etc. It will also
provide you with access to childminding vacancies to meet
your specific needs and will give detail on the individual
childminders e.g. has the Childminder had any training? Will
they be able to collect my child from school? Do they provide
an after school service?
CHILDMINDING INFORMATION, ADVICE & VACANCY SERVICE
NICMA’s Childminding Information, Advice & Vacancy
Service is a key element of the services provided for parents,
childminders, employers and other stakeholders. We offer access
to:
- A database of detailed Childminder vacancies to match
to parents specific childcare needs;
- A telephone Information & Advice service to answer all
queries related to childminding services;
- A ‘Childminding Business Pack’, updated annually,
to assist childminders in offering a professional childcare
service;
- A range of publications
and resources to enhance childcare practice.
To use the service and access information of details of
childminding vacancies please contact the Information Officer
on 0871 200 2063.
CHILDMINDING CONTRACTS FOR PARENTS
Childminding Contracts
- NICMA recommend that both childminder and parent read
the Guidance Notes in the Membership Pack before completing
contract forms
- Terms and conditions should be negotiated, agreed and
considered before contracts are signed by either party
- Childminder and parent should have a copy of the agreed
contract for their own reference
- The contract will clearly state to the parent, the childminding
fees, agreed dates for payment, when and how to pay and
exactly what the payment includes
- The contract will clearly state to the childminder the
childminding fees to be paid, agreed dates for payment and
exactly what the payment includes
- Should the terms and conditions of the contract change,
then a new contract should be negotiated, considered, agreed
and signed by both parties
- A contract signed by both parties is a legally binding
document
- A signed contract is open ended unless an end date is
stated and thus will remain valid until terminated in accordance
with agreed terms or superceded with newly agreed and signed
one.
What to do if a childminding arrangement breaks down?
- Read through the contract to ensure that you know what
was negotiated, agreed and signed up to
- Keep calm, be professional and arrange to meet the childminder
to discuss the disagreement by talking it through when no
children are present
- If a new arrangement to those already agreed is required
and the childminder is unable to facilitate this new request
then it may be best to terminate the contract under the
agreed notice period
Terminating contracts
- The period of notice applies to either party in the contract
– both childminders and parents
- The childminder should provide the childminding service
during the notice period or they may be asked to pay the
parent the amount of fees due in lieu of notice
- The parent should allow the childminder to care for the
child during the notice period or they may be liable to
pay money to the childminder in lieu of lost fees
- It should be remembered that when a contract is terminated
the terms and conditions end
- Any agreed paid time off must have been taken before the
contract is terminated
- Notice of termination of the contract by either party
must be given in writing and should not include any holiday
period. The notice period should be given on the first working
day after any agreed holiday period
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