children in our care. We aim to have a positive impact on young children’s development to enable them to be ready for school and offer a relaxed home from home to older children after school and in the holidays. Childminders who are suitably qualified can join a childminding network and are able to offer Nursery Education Funded places. Some families choose to use this entitlement over 3–5 days with a childminder or split the entitlement of five sessions between a nursery and a childminder especially when a child is very young or finds large groups a daunting experience. We regularly access training to help enhance the way that we work with children and keep up with current educational thinking and any new legal requirements that come into force. Last year, local training included ‘supporting boys’ and ‘ICT with children in the home’. Soon we will be covering ‘managing children’s behaviour’ and more ‘reflective practice’ Some childminders also offer respite care for families who need this service and access specialised training to help them with this area of work. Childminders aspire to work in partnership with parents at all times to ensure that children gain the most from their time with the childminder, therefore meeting their individual needs in an inclusive and non biased environment. I have found childminding is very rewarding watching the children grow and then move on happily to school. I feel privileged to be a part of their lives. Information about childminding vacancies can be obtained from www.opportunity-links.org.uk or phone 0845 04 05 014. Jenny Brett Childminder 01763 269674 Jane Astley Childminding Support
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www.melbourn.org.uk
and Development Officer National Childminding Association 01763 268469 jane.astley@ncma.org.uk The National Childminding Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales. Registered Charity no: 295981 Limited Company no: 2060964 Head office: Royal Court, 81 Tweedy Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1TG
Lifeboats Writing this in January, after some of the coldest weather for many years, it is quite difficult to imagine the warm, sunny weather which we will hopefully be seeing when this magazine reaches you. Local fundraising efforts for RNLI tend to slow down during the winter months, while we plan our events for the coming year, but regular activities go on, one of them being box-emptying. We have our collection of boxes all over the area, in shops, pubs and other places of work. This provides useful extra income for RNLI and of course ‘every little helps’. If you feel you could hold a collection box for us, do please contact me. As the season gets under way we have our regular attendance at Duxford Flying Days – some of you may have seen our souvenir stall – and of course our street collection or ‘Flag Day’, and Tesco collection days.
