In December 2012 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) were replaced by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

More information can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

I recently came across this extremely interesting article produce by the National Daycare Trust, exploring the introduction of childminder agencies in the Netherlands. It highlights the negative effects it has had, and explains why they are looking to remove agencies in the near future…

toilet rolls

The UK Childminding Association (UKCMA), an association dedicated purely to childminders, is welcoming members today following the launch of the members’ section on its website.

The UKCMA was created to help maintain and improve the standards in childminding and launched its website in September 2012.  Now the Association is offering professional childminders the opportunity to tap into a wealth of industry information and voice their opinions with its brand new members’ section.

Childminders who join the UKCMA will have access to the latest news and information on legislation along with a host of download resources. Members will also be able to tap into a multitude of useful features including the ability to have their say through an innovative Questions and Answers section. Questions will be answered by the UKCMA’s online community and contributors will be able to rate the feedback given as well as following ‘Hot Questions’.

 Members will also be able to make use of an industry-specific social media wall with feeds from all from relevant sources without members having to have any social media accounts of their own. 

UKCMA will also provide information on training opportunities including e-learning that is delivered through the UKCMA’s training partners to ensure childminders continue to deliver exceptional learning and support to the children in their care. 

Members also get to tap into some great exclusive benefits from our partners such as Morton Michel, the UKCMA’s associate insurance provider, Creative Steps magazine and Training Partner, Riverside Training. Members also get to tap into some great exclusive benefits from our partners such as Morton Michel, the UKCMA’s associate insurance provider, Creative Steps magazine and Training Partner, Riverside Training. Members also get to tap into some great exclusive benefits from our partners such as Morton Michel, the UKCMA’s associate insurance provider, Creative Steps magazine and Training Partner, Riverside Training.Members also get to tap into some our growing selection of exclusive member benefits from our partners such as Morton Michel, the UKCMA’s associate insurance provider amongst others. In addition to all this, members will also have access UKCMA’s 24 hour Helpline* for around the clock professional support. 

Lynda De Wolf, co-founder and Director of UKCMA said, “The UKCMA is here to provide a much needed source of support for today’s childminders and we’re delighted to announce our members’ section is available.

“In addition to all the factual information and latest news, the members’ section is a place for childminders to have their say and ask other members ‘hot questions’ and kicking this off by inviting individual feedback on the OFSTED inspections.

“We are an online community here to make life easier for childminders. We are there for those who are just starting out as well as the more seasoned professional and our membership system is both flexible and hassle free.” added Lynda.

Membership to the UKCMA will be available on a monthly pay basis as well as an annual payment saving option.

* The 24 hour Helpline does not provide legal advice

www.ukcma.co.uk

We have some great news! On Monday 25th March you will be able to join as a member of UKCMA and discover a host of benefits including the opportunity to voice your opinions and have your say. Members can also get their questions answered by our online community, rate the feedback given and follow the ‘Hot Questions’.

Members’ features will not only include up-to-the-minute news and articles but an industry-specific social media wall with access to feeds from all the relevant sources and social networks without the need to have your own social media accounts.

You will also be able to tap into a packed information section full of articles and resources for download as well as UKCMA’s 24 hour Helpline for around the clock professional support*.

On top of all of this, our associate insurance provider, Morton Michel, will also
offering all UKCMA members a free pack of contracts (worth up to £26) to any
childminder who chooses to insure with them.

We will be in touch very shortly with more information ahead of our Members’ section launch.

*The 24 hour Helpline is not able to provide legal advice

The UKCMA team
http://www.ukcma.co.uk

Featuring farm animals, spring bulbs and spring creatures, this edition also includes the many spring festivals including Holi, St Patricks Day and St Davids Day.

Packed with so much more dont miss out! Click here to purchase.

Everything egg shaped in this edition. Paint them, hide them, create with them.

This edition focuses on the meaning of Child-led and Adult-led play. What exactly does this mean? and how is it shown in planning? Read our article to find out more  Sarah explores Absent Parents further in the second article in the series and don’t miss the second installment on the revised EYFS.

Packed with so much more dont miss out! Click here to purchase.

We will be reporting on the proposed changes throughout March and the report can be downloaded here;

More Great Childcare – Truss

Explore the animal life at a pond and engage in activities to promote counting and an understanding of size, shape and space.

This edition focuses on our response to the Truss report More Great Childcare and offers a slightly different perspective to the propsed changes to childminder ratios.

Packed with so much more dont miss out! Click here to purchase.

Visit the 3 bears and have some porridge for breakfast or snack. Print our art and craft templates and explore size with Twinkl printable Goldilocks resources. ICAN also provide some fantastic tips on storytelling with your pre-school children.

This edition holds the final installment of our Documenting Childrens Learning series along with a response from 4Children to the More Great Childcare report.

Packed with so much more dont miss out! Click here to purchase.