Jane Hutt, children's minister, said last week that the contract to support new childminders was partly in recognition of the growing care sector and its need of business support. She said, 'The WDA has seen that childminders starting work are business start-ups like any other, and that there is an extra payback for the economy through the new childcare provision that results.
'New childminders can find the registration process challenging - it does need to ensure our children are safe and get quality care. This contract will ensure they receive introductory training of a consistent standard across Wales, one-to-one mentoring through the registration process, and follow-up to promote further development.'
She added, 'It is important to recognise how childcare can help business, and how childcare businesses need support. We know that enlightened employers reap the benefits when their staff can balance work and family life as they wish.'
Gill Haynes, NCMA chief executive, said the WDA contract meant that new childminders in Wales would be the recipients of 'a first-class support package, unrivalled throughout the UK'. She added, 'It will provide childminders with consistent nationally recognised preparation training in the form of the Introducing Childminding Practice course, plus a first aid course and basic food hygiene course.
'Business support workers and development workers will be available to support childminders on a one-to-one basis to achieve an accredited qualification, register as a childminder, set up their own self-employed business, and sustain and develop their business. The contract also provides for career development by giving each newly-registered childminder the option to undertake the CACHE Developing Childminding Practice course free of charge.'
The Welsh Assembly is also to fund childminder start-up grants through the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships, giving new childminders an NCMA Quality Start package, which includes 12 months of public liability insurance and a full set of business documentation.
There are currently around 2,800 registered childminders in Wales.
