What is a Childminding Network?

Childminding networks are groups of Childminders who are assessed and monitored by a Network Co-ordinator. There are more than 300 Childminding Networks in England and Wales holding the National Childminding Association's (NCMA) "Children Come First" approval. "Children Come First" is a quality assurance scheme for childminding networks. Networks can be accredited to provide early education under the "Children Come First (Early Years Education)" scheme.



Norfolk Childminding Network
Norfolk Childminding Network is organised into clusters, which cover various areas of the county. Each cluster:

• Holds regular group meetings where children and childminders can socialise and make friends
• Arranges local training opportunities for childminders
• Arranges outings for children, parents and childminders
• Has a toy and resources library

Please see the cluster links for a full list of Norfolk Childminding Network clusters. The Norfolk Childminding Network is a NCMA "Children Come First (Early Years Education)" accredited network, so Norfolk Childminding Network Childminders can be accredited to provide funded early education for 3 and 4 year olds. Only Childminders who belong to an accredited "Children Come First" network can offer government-funded early education sessions.

Before a Childminder can be accepted into a network they must be assessed by the Network Co-ordinator against the "Children Come First" quality standards. These standards cover all aspects of childminding practice, from keeping children safe to working with families.

Every Norfolk Childminding Network Childminder has a certificate from Childminding Matters, which confirms their membership, and all parents who use their services receive a parents' information pack.

Network Childminders are visited every 8 to 10 weeks by a Network Co-ordinator to ensure that their childcare practice is still meeting the quality standards. Some of these visits are unannounced.

Childminders benefit from network membership by:

• Having quality assurance which is reassuring to parents
• Being able to offer government funded early education, if accredited
• Having an individual training plan and access to free local training and conferences
• Having access to a toy and resources library
• A vacancy matching service
• Getting regular support and advice from the network Co-ordinator
• Having peer support from other Network Childminders

Childminders who join the network must:

• Consistently meet the "Children Come First" quality assurance standards and the National Standards for Under 8s Day Care and Childminding
• Accept monitoring visits every 8 to 10 weeks and unannounced visits
• Attend at least 3 days' training per year
• Attend network support meetings
• Regularly review their service to see how they can improve it
• Ask for feedback from the parents and children they work with.

Parents can contact the Network Co-ordinator for help with:

• Finding a Network Childminder
• Looking for back-up care if their Childminder is ill or on holiday
• Childminding advice and information
• Settling any dispute with a Network Childminder.