How to Become a Child Minder
By providing childcare in your home you are providing a personal, homely and unique service to other people's children. Childminding is a career option that requires many skills and attributes and enables the minder to become a a self-employed childcare provider.
If you choose to become or are already a childminder it is worth remembering the following:
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You cannot care for more than 5 children who are under 6 years of age
- No more than 3 of these children can be under 1 year of age. (This is in accordance with the Pre-School Regulations)
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If you care for more than 3 children you are required by law to notify the HSE - Mid Western Region. However if you care for 3 children or less it is encouraged that the childminder voluntarily notifies the HSE - Mid Western Region.
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The benefits of notification (both legal & voluntary) include receiving support from both the North Tipperary Childcare Committee and the HSE Pre-School Inspection Team, support and development through access to childcare training and networking with other childcare providers, ensuring the health safety and welfare of the children is paramount and availability of Childminding Development Grants
Childminder's Support and Networking
North Tipperary County Childcare Committee:
The North Tipperary County Childcare Committee are here to support all childminders in the North Tipperary region. This will be done through providing information and training for childminders, supporting networking opportunities with other childminders and service providers and by processing applications for Childminding Development Grants.
Childminding Advisor:
In North Tipperary the Childminding Advisor is Lisa McGeeney. Lisa works for the HSE - Mid Western Region. The role of the Childminding Advisor is to provide childminders with professional ongoing support, updates on relevant childcare and childminding issues and advisory visits.
Further details are available from:
Lisa McGeeney,
Childminding Advisor,
HSE, Mid West Area,
Annbrook,
Nenagh.
Tel: 067 38310
childmindingnorthtipp@mailh.hse.ie
Childminding Development Worker:
The Childminding Development Worker plays a central role in supporting the development of home based childminding services so that accessible quality childcare will be available to all children who require it in North Tipperary. Noílín works in partnership with Lisa Mc Geeney the HSE Childminding Advisory Officer, her contact details are:
Tel: 085-7173186
Childminding Publications
The County Childcare Committees of North Tipperary, Clare, Limerick City and County in conjunction with the HSE - Mid Western Region recently produced 2 publications for the childminding sector:
The Office for The Minister for Children under the National Childcare Strategy 2006 - 2010 has recently produced :
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National Guidelines for Childminders (revised edition August 2008) - English version
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National Guidelines for Childminders (revised edition August 2008) - Irish version
We are sure the above publications will be a valuable source of information for you in the area of childminding.
NCIP Childminding Development Grant (2008 - 2010) Update
From the 26th May 2008 until the closure of the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) in December 2010, a new and enhanced Childminding Development Grant is be available to all Childminders. It replaces the previous Childminding Development Grant and will continue to be administered by the North Tipperary County Childcare Committee.
The good news is that the maximum grant amount has been increased from €630 to €1,000 and can be claimed against validated expenditure on equipment, toys or minor household adaptations.
It is a condition of the grant that Childminders who are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 have notified their service to the HSE. To avail of the maximum grant, a Childminder must give a commitment to operate as a Childminder for not less than 2 years with a pro-rata reduction in the grant level where a shorter-term commitment is given. Childminders who received a Development Grant under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) during 2004 – 2007, may apply for funding under the new NCIP scheme. Childminders may also re-apply under the NCIP scheme after 2 years, where their first NCIP grant was at the maximum level.
The purpose of the Childminding Development Grant is to:
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support and enhance the childminders awareness of quality childcare.
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It is designed to assist in providing an existing childminding service in the enhancement of safety and quality through the purchase of small capital items, equipment, toys or minor adaptation costs.
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It may also give financial assistance to new or prospective childminders with their initial set up costs.
The scheme is open to anyone currently Childminding (caring for children in the Childminders own homes) or to those preparing to develop a Childminding service in the near future. The purpose of the scheme is to offer an incentive, in the form of a small capital grant, to Childminders to enhance and support their awareness of quality childcare.
Who is eligible to apply for the Childminder Development Grant?
A childminder who is:
- Providing an existing childminding service carried out in the childminder's home.
- Proposing a new childminding service to be carried out in the childminder's home.
What can the Childminder Development Grant be used for?...
The grant can be used for purchasing small capital items, equipment, toys or minor adaptation costs which will enhance the safety / quality of the service provided.
The final decision in relation to eligible capital expenditure will be at the discretion of the North Tipperary County Childcare Committee.
The following are a few examples of the different types of costs that may be covered by the grant:
- Safety Costs
- Fire Blanket
- Smoke alarm
- Socket Covers
- Cupboard Locks
- Fire guard
- Stair gate
- Equipment or toys
- Out door equipment (swing, slide)
- Baby chair, feeding equipment
- Cots
- Toys for a range of age groups
- Suitable books for different ages
To apply for the Childminder Development Grant Download Application forms here:
Application Form For Childminders
Grant - PDF Document
(257
KB)
Quality Awareness Programme
booking Form - PDF Document
(134
KB)
Upcoming Events
Watch this space for forthcoming events!
National Childminding Week 2010 - 22nd - 27th March 2010
| Monday 22nd | Information Road Show Supervalu, Ballina, Co. Tipperary 12.30pm - 3.30pm |
| Tuesday 23rd | Quality Awareness Programme Templemore, Co. Tipperary |
| Wednesday 24th | Physical Activities for early years Anner Hotel, Thurles - 7pm - 9pm |
| Thursday 25th | Information Road Show Dunnes Stores, Nenagh - 12.30pm - 3.30pm |
| Tuesday 13th April | Physical Activities for early years Pastoral Centre, Nenagh - 7pm - 9pm |
| 2nd Wednesday of each Month | Coffee Morning Jump 'n Gyms - 10.30am - 12.30pm |
For more information contact Noilin Ryan, Childminding Development Worker
Tel: 085-7173186
Email: ntchildminding@gmail.com
For nation wide Childminding information and news, you can contact:
9, Bulford Business Campus,
Kilcoole,
Co. Wicklow
Tel: 01 2878466
Fax: 01 2878465
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