Is it worth joining the NCMA and getting their insurance?

[MrsPuddleduck]

I am going to my briefing on Tuesday and am just wondering if its worth the fee.

Also, is it going to be difficult to get my first mindee?

i got my first years insurance and ncma pack free from my local surestart(they footed the bill), in my second year i went with morton michel as they offered the same but were cheaper..i think the name NCMA has more clout TBH, but i didnt find them very helpful on my one occasion of needing help..i do rpefer their paperwork though as oppsoed to MM, but you can buy that regardless of wether you're a member or not.

I have defected to Morton Michel after 21 years for insurance, but still a member of NCMA as I get it paid for as a support minder.

NCMA is the only organisation that gets involved in childcare issues on behalf of childminders - like making comment on consultations eg the one about Ofsted fees etc. Without NCMA we wouldn't have an agreement with tax office either. They might not do as much as we'd like them to do, but the fewer members they get the less they can do. Downward spiral ...

NCMA have helped me on one occasion when Environmental Health wanted me to have 3 sinks in my kitchen - NCMA found a chap at the FSA with an extract from the relevant law to prove it wasn't necessary. On the other hand several emails I've sent have not even been acknowledged and to others they sent replies that didn't show any evidence of anyone having actually read and understood the question I asked. The last one just said I should have sent it to someone local. But it didn't give a name, telephone number or email to help me.

I would recommend joining NCMA (if only in your first year). You get a handbook which gives lots of info which is really helpful when you're just starting out.

Ask if the NCMA starter packs are still available - as pinkchick says you used to get free membership plus other stuff.

Thanks

I think I will join for the first year and take it from there. I didn't realise you could get paperwork from them - I thought you had to buy it all off their site.