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TRAINING

The emphasis on training and qualifications for childminders is vital, as thousands of children and families depend on registered childminders. Training for childminders has a central role to play in promoting high standards and quality in family day care, and the right sort of training benefits not only the childminder, but the children and parents as well. Good quality childminding requires a multitude of skills and knowledge to meet the care and educational needs of individual children, as well as the skills required to operate a small business and communicate with adults.

As part of NICMA’s remit for developing and ensuring the quality of care for children aged 0 –14 years in childminding settings, NICMA regularly audits childminding members training and qualifications. This exercise was carried out in March 2003 across a childminding membership of 2410 [54.7% of all registered childminders]. The purpose of the audit is:

1. To provide overall statistics regarding the levels of training in the childminding sector
2. To analyse childminders future training needs and to plan accordingly
3. To highlight the need for childminder specific training and associated funding
4. As evidence to support future training/funding applications
5. To feed into Childcare Partnership Childcare Plans and associated Training Plans

NICMA aims to provide members, staff and volunteers with the training they need in order to provide a quality home based childcare and education service.

NICMA'S TRAINING FRAMEWORK

WELCOME TO QUALITY FIRST!

What is NCMA Quality First?

NCMA Quality First is a quality assurance scheme for individual childminders in England , Wales and Northern Ireland . It has been designed by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) to provide you with a valuable tool for developing and demonstrating the quality of your service.

NICMA have worked very closely with NCMA to bring this scheme to Northern Ireland so that eventually ALL Childminders across the United Kingdom will be able to be accredited to the same quality assurance standards.

Throughout this information, you will see reference to NCMA Quality First – the official name of the scheme – but all of the documentation has been adapted to reflect Childminding legislation and policies in Northern Ireland .

By enrolling on this scheme, a childminder is showing a commitment to running their childcare business in a professional way, and taking responsibility for developing the quality of their practice.

NCMA Quality First is the brand name for the quality assurance scheme for Childminders across the United Kingdom .

NCMA – National Childminding Association

What is quality assurance?

Quality assurance is a way of demonstrating that the childminding service you provide has been checked and is of high quality. It should not just be a snapshot of your practice, but should show that you have started on a journey that will keep you moving forward in your professional career by developing and improving your childminding practice.

Who can enroll on NCMA Quality First?

NCMA Quality First is suitable for registered childminders who have some experience of childminding – if you are a new childminder, you may want to wait until you are settled in to your new job and have a range of experience before you start NCMA Quality First.

How much does NCMA Quality First cost?

It will cost you £400 per individual to enroll on NCMA Quality First if you are a NICMA member and £450 if you are not a NICMA member. It is possible to spread the cost over four payments.

The prices are valid up to 31 December 2006. NICMA reserves the right to change them.

How long does NCMA Quality First take to complete successfully?

This will depend on how much time you spend working on your portfolio in a week. Some sections may be easier and take less time if you have completed other childminding training. But overall, we would expect you to complete your portfolio over several months – normally no longer than a year.

What help will I get while I’m completing my portfolio?

You will have access to support and advice from a NICMA Mentor, by phone or if you prefer by email. You may be able to get extra support by attending workshops in your area.

You are also allocated two NICMA Quality First Assessors – one who assesses your portfolio and one who visits your childminding setting. When you are near to completing your portfolio we need to arrange a visit for you from the visiting assessor. In order for us to do this please complete the postcard at the back of your portfolio and send to NICMA. The visiting assessor will then contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time for the visit. You will also be sent the address of where you should send your completed portfolio once you have received a satisfactory report from the visiting assessor and have completed all sections of your portfolio.

Where can I find out more about NCMA Quality First?

To find out more about NCMA Quality First, call NICMA on 028 9181 1015 or e-mail qualityfirst@nicma.org

The benefits of enrolling on NCMA Quality First

NCMA Quality First is a new quality assurance scheme for individual childminders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has been designed by NCMA to provide you with a valuable tool for developing and demonstrating the quality of your service.

Parents and government are demanding higher standards of quality in childcare. Your ability to demonstrate that you have achieved a nationally recognised high standard of practice could be crucial to your success in maintaining and filling places.

The benefits of enrolling on NCMA Quality First

It’s the only nationally recognised quality assurance scheme specially designed for individual registered childminders It will enable you to demonstrate the high quality of your childminding service and expertise to families in a professional way It has been designed specially for childminders, which means you can work flexibly to suit your own specific circumstances and use examples relevant to your home based setting

The materials are attractively designed and easy to follow with step-by-step colour coded modules to fill in, all supplied in a sturdy ring binder and carrying case. It will help you plan and develop your childminding business so you stay competitive. It will help you prepare for your annual inspection from Early Years, and may also help you if you want to move on to NVQ and/or apply to join a childminding network.

Who should enroll on NCMA Quality First?

NCMA Quality First is suitable for registered childminders who have some experience of childminding – if you are a new childminder, you may want to wait until you are settled in to your new job and have a range of experience before you start NCMA Quality First.

It is not necessary to have been on any specific training course before you enroll on NCMA Quality First, but you will probably find that you can make better progress with the scheme if you have already completed training to the level of the Introduction to Childminding or similar.

NCMA Quality First is awarded at three different levels. When you have had a chance to consider the materials, you can decide for yourself whether you feel ready to submit the materials for Level 1, 2 or 3. To achieve Level 3, you will probably have needed to have completed training at the level of an Early Years Care and Education Level 3 NVQ.

How long will my Quality First Certificate be valid for?

The NCMA Quality First certificate is valid for three years, at the end of which you will need to apply for renewal. A renewal fee, which is yet to be decided, will be charged.

If you achieve Level 1 or 2, you will be able to submit additional material during the three years to cover yourself on to the next level. There will be an extra charge for this depending upon the nature of assessment required.

How NCMA Quality First works

Once you have enrolled on NCMA Quality First, you are sent a pack containing the materials for you to read and work on. You write in your answers and add in your own documents to build up a portfolio.

During this time you will have access to support and advice from an NICMA Mentor, by phone or if you prefer by email.

A NICMA Assessor will visit you at home to observe your relationship, contact and communication with the children. (Note, by signing the application form you are agreeing to an assessment visit.)

You work on the portfolio at your own pace, and when you’re ready you send it off for assessment. This will usually take a maximum of a year to complete; we will let you know when the year is nearly up.

When you have successfully completed NCMA Quality First, you will be awarded a certificate, which lasts for three years. You will also receive leaflets to explain to parents and others what your achievement means.

NICMA acknowledge the National Childminding Association in the development of NCMA Quality First in Northern Ireland .

HIGH/SCOPE IN THE FAMILY DAY CARE SETTING

WHAT IS HIGH/SCOPE ?

‘High/Scope’ is a quality approach to children’s learning which recognises the uniqueness of each child and develops a child’s self confidence by building on what they can do. It promotes active learning by engaging children with people, materials, events and ideas in ways that are direct, immediate and meaningful to the child. High/Scope recognises and supports a child’s natural desire to learn. Their Plan-Do-Review process allows children the opportunity to create and express their intentions, to generate their own learning experiences and to reflect on those experiences.

The High/Scope approach promotes consistency through the daily routine. Children require consistency to become confident, independent learners. Through the High/Scope Curriculum which is based on extensive observations of young children learning, High/Scope offers children the foundation of knowledge, skills and ideas that they will build on throughout their lives.

“My research shows that children involved in the HIGH/SCOPE Approach become self motivated learners, who are purposefully engaged in challenging and complex activites”
Joan Santer, Lecturer in Primary Education (Early Years), University of Newcastle.

High/Scope has many benefits for children, parents and childminders who use the High/Scope approach. It enables all children to participate in their learning. Research has proven that High/Scope enhances the practitioners professional self-esteem and that it encourages parents and practitioners to raise their expectations for children and for themselves. High/Scope is the ONLY early years approach that is validated by long term research.

WHY SHOULD A CHILDMINDER COMPLETE A HIGH/SCOPE COURSE ?

High/Scope is recognised as a quality standard and by encouraging you, the childminders to complete the High/Scope programme, we are enabling you to raise your status as a quality childcare provider. You can compete on a more even footing with other childcare providers in your area. Perhaps you care for a child who attends a High/Scope Playgroup in the mornings, you can now continue the programme with this child in your home.

NICMA have High Scope tutors in all areas of Northern Ireland who are able to deliver a course to groups of childminders.

If you are interested in completing a High/Scope course please write to Barbara Quinn, NICMA Training Manager.