Children's & Young People's Services

Extended Services In and Around Schools

Childminding Network

Bexley 'Children Come First' Childminding Network

This network has achieved the 'Children Come First' Quality Assurance Approval from the National Childminding Association.

What is a Childminding Network?

This is a formal group of registered childminders who are approved by the National Childminding Association Quality Assurance scheme, "Children Come First".

The childminders are recruited, assessed and monitored by network co-ordinators. The network co-ordinator monitors the practice of all network childminders every term to ensure that the quality standards, approved by the National Childminding Association, are being met and maintained.

Areas Covered by the Charter:

Children’s learning and development
Children’s behaviour
Working in partnership with parents
Confidentiality
Keeping children safe
Business practice
Nutrition and diet
Equality of opportunity and anti-discrimination
Continuity of childminding care

The network childminders are able to offer high quality care for parents and meet their individual needs.

Currently under existing arrangements childminders are not able to offer an early years education place but IF childminders join the network they will be offered the appropriate training and will be paid the same as schools and pre-schools to take 3 and 4 year olds and be part of Bexley's Childcare, Play & Family Services Plan. Only accredited childminders on an NCMA Children Come First network can offer this service and access funding. Networks offering early years education have an inspection by OFSTED. The network aims to raise the quality of childcare for children up to 19 years old and their families.

Childminders will be able to provide respite care and full day care. They are also able to offer support to teenage parents that wish to return to further education and training.

There are a number of benefits for childminders to become part of the network such as:

Additional training and support
Promotes childminding as a professional, high quality option
Encourages childminders to become accredited in order to access 3 or 4 year nursery education grant funding
Trains childminders on how to prepare young children for school by offering early education support from qualified teachers and area SENCOs
Toy library and equipment loan scheme
Reference library service
To inform parents and carers of the benefits of using the services of a network childminder to deliver early years education
Regular support meetings
Monthly drop in for network childminders

For a network to be approved by NCMA Children Come First scheme, all childminders in the network must be operating childminding practice which meets the standards within the Quality Childminding Charter.

Registered childminders recruited to the network must live within the ward areas of: Thamesmead East, Lesnes Abbey, Belvedere, Erith, Northumberland Heath, Colyers and Northend in the London Borough of Bexley area and will demonstrate good practice in all aspects of childminding.

Each childminder who joins any of these networks must have an accredited qualification such as DCP, ECP, CCP, NVQ level 3 or DHC and a minimum of one year's child minding experience. They are also expected to sign an agreement setting out their commitment to operate according to the standards and also agrees to receive regular monitoring visits from the Childminding Network Development Officer.

For further information please contact:

Childminding Network Development Officer - Tracey Shaw
01322 446725

Bexley FIS cannot recommend or endorse any childcare providers and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of this information.