Whats a network childminder?

[mindermummy]

What is it? And what does it mean to become accredated? What are the benefits to the childminder??

Its joining an NCMA network.
theyre are 2 types - approved networks
If you need extra childminder contacts it is good for this, and they also offer training.
It looks good to parents and Ofsted - but no extra money.
You have to complete lots more paperwork to get on it. They are like slightly different versions of the National standards.
You are vistied regularly by an NCMA person and monitored to ensure you are still meeting thier standards and they do observations on you and the minded children.

The other sort is accredited where you can get funding for 3 and 4 year olds like a nursery does and so charge the parents less. To do this you have to show that you are teaching the foundation stage curriculum, do formal plans and observations,and show that you are helping the child achieve the stepping stones in the curriculum.
I'm not sure but I think there is also an additional ofsted inspection to assess your teaching of this too.

I found this document which explains more - haven't read it myself though

ncma document re accreditation

Alison explained it very well

I use Quality Assured Kitemark to the parents - they tend to understand that

Hi Ive been a networked accredited childminder for two years, and yes we do get a different OFSTED Inspection, my Inspector was with me for 3 day!!!!! She Inspects the care side and teaching side wanting to see everything i do with the children, and all paperwork to do with the National Curriculum and Birth to Three Matters as well as the usual paperwork. I thought it would be really horrendous but she was lovely, staying only two to three hours each day at different times, and then taking paperwork away to look at asking questions the next day. It is alot more paperwork for no more money but i really enjoy the teaching side. My Network Co ordinator comes in about once a half term and the Dfes about the same (this because i can draw down the Goverment Pre School Grant for parents)but this isnt a problem. In fact my mindees love to see them, they only come on a Thursday morning as they know we have plans other mornings(Toddler GYm, Swimming, Soft Play and Music Club)which are all to cover certain parts of the curriculum. Thursdays are messy play and the Inspectors usually end up the messiest! The benifits to me has been that I have seen my eldest mindee (Who started at 2 years) right through to school, and really proud to say she is one of the top in her class. The 3 year old will be starting next September and the 2 year old will then be three and following onto accreditation, and so it goes on. I love it and so do my parents, I have asked all if they would prefer their child to go to pre school, but all feel they get more with me. PS. I also meet up with 5 other Childminders at least a couple of times a week so children socialise with other to. Best of both worlds.