Childminders gathered at New River Green Children's Centre this week (20 June) to celebrate Islington's first approved childminding network.
Mayor Cllr Jyoti Vaja was guest of honour and handed out certificates to 11 childminders who had recently qualified.
New River Green Children's Centre is the first of five such networks planned across the borough and promises parents quality assured staff at council-run facilities.
The network was approved in April under the National Childminding Association's (NCMA's) Children Come First (CCF) quality assurance scheme for childminding networks. It will shortly expand to cover the Factory and New North Community School children's centre areas.
Cllr Ursula Woolley, executive member for children and young people said:
"The scheme ensures parents and children using council-run Childrens Centres get an excellent standard of care from childminders.
Childrens Centres are at the forefront of extending the number of affordable, quality childcare places in the borough and we are jusifiably proud of them.
As our childminders know, there are some great careers with children in the borough - to find out more, call the council on 020 7527 2000."
A Children Come First childminding network is a formal group of registered childminders. To be accepted onto the network childminders are assessed against the NCMA's Quality Standards by a network co-ordinator and give a commitment to provide the best possible childminding service to children and their families.
Network childminders continue to be supported in their professional development by the network co-ordinator, who also carries out regular visits to the childminders on the network to ensure that high standards are being maintained.
Networks offer plenty of benefits to childminders, including peer support, training, guidance, as well as promoting the work of childminders to parents.
"We see childminders as a really important part of our provision at New River Green Children's Centre, ' said Anita Mohindra, Head of Centre at New River Green, ' Not only can they access the training that is offered to all staff but are seen as professionals in the childcare field."
"Becoming a network childminder has helped me to provide a better childminding service.....I like having the extra support from the network co-ordinator and other childminders. It has given me the confidence to think about doing a qualification.", said childminder, Beryl Houseman.
Using a network childminder offers parents reassurance and a quality childcare service to children.
At an event to celebrate the status of New River Green Network, Ramsey Walk, N1 on Tuesday, 20th June, 11 childminders
received certificates from Islington Mayor, Jyoti Vaja.
For more information about the 'New River Green' Childminding Network, please contact:
Tel.: 020 7226 7725
E-mail: janet.harris@islington.gov.uk
For more information about childminding networks, please contact: Danusia Socha, Childminding Development Worker, Islington Children's Services
Tel.: 020 7527 5927
E-mail: danusia.socha@islinton.gov.uk
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008