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GlobalAppointments.com An Internet service for the International Childminders community, forging links between prospective employers/employees across the globe.
GlobalAppointments.com has a high capacity database and friends across the world, thus ensuring that advertisements will be seen by all the right people. With high levels of exposure users are provided with the best possible chance of achieving their goal.
Please select (click) one of the following section headings for further, specific information:
Introducing Childminders Jobs
Guidelines and questions to ask when considering employing a childminder
Home Child Carer scheme
Every country has a different name for this type of childcare. South Africans refers to these carers as Auxiliary/care nurse, in the UK they are called Childminders. To help stop confusion we will call them Childminders and are defined as carers who;
- Provide care for children ages 0 – 8 years old in their own home.
- In many countries, must be registered with local social services or councils.
- Are self employed (they are responsible for their own tax bills).
- Have basic training and inspections on a regular basis.
- Have Public Liability Insurance.
In the UK the 1948 Nurseries and Child-minders Regulation Act made local authorities responsible for the regulation of daily child minding in private homes and other places e.g. nurseries. Local authority approval (OFSTED) is required if children are looked after for more than 2 hours per day. The regulations were extended to children up to age 8 years by the Children Act 1989 (which took affect in 1991). Most countries operate similar schemes.
In the UK many childminders are members of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). NCMA seeks to promote good childcare practise and membership is also open to parents and others interested in family day-care.
Click here if you want details about child care insurance or help on tax matters
About childminders
- How does the childminder relate to the children?
- What training and experience does the childminder have?
- How old are the childminder's own children and the other minded children? (They can look after 6 children under eight years old, but no more than three under fives, including their own)
- Does the childminder have an emergency arrangement with other childminders, if so maybe you could suggest a meeting?
- Your childminder does not have to care for your child when he or she is unwell and should only give medicines if you give written permission. If your child needs daily medicines the childminder needs to be made aware of all of your child's medical requirements.
- What is the age of the other children in your childminders care; will they complement your own child's needs?
Activities
- Does the childminder offer suitable indoor and outdoor activities, outings and visits to childminding or parent and toddler groups?
- If your child will be taken in the car will they be strapped in safely and does the childminder have up to date car insurance that applies to childminding? Ask to see all relevant documents and if necessary provide your childminder with your child's own car seat.
- Does the childminder provide plenty of activities? Are they appropriate for the children's ages?
- Will all of your child's social, emotional and educational needs be met?
The home
- Can they show you around their home and garden and tell you about hygiene and safety? Take special notice of the kitchen, hygiene here is very important
- How often do family and friends visit?
- Are pets managed safely?
- Does the childminder or another family member smoke?
- Where will your child sleep if they need a rest? Will you need to provide bedding?
- Does the childminder take good health and safety precautions?
Caring for your child
- Do they offer varied and nutritious food? Can they provide special diets for health or cultural reasons?
- What is their approach to discipline? Is it similar to your own approach?
- What is their approach to toilet training? Is it similar to your own approach?
- What will your child need to bring every day? Nappies, coats….?
Registration and paperwork
- Can you see the childminder's registration certificate? This will tell you how many children of different ages they can look after.
- What records does the childminder keep and how do they record accidents?
- Can you see a current public liability insurance certificate?
- Do they work to a quality assurance scheme?
- Are they a member of the National Childminding Association or something similar?
Money
- How much are the fees, what do they include and when do you pay?
- Who supplies nappies, baby food and milk etc?
- What charges are made for holidays and sickness?
- Do you have to pay a deposit or retainer?
- Do you have to pay for settling in time, when your child can get to know the childminder before he or she starts?
Miscellaneous
- Does the childminder claim Nursery Education Grant (UK Only) for three and four year olds? Many countries operate similar schemes.
- Discuss any problems with your childminder as soon as they come up so that you can both try to resolve them quickly. Also remember that the hours your child is with the childminder is their working day as well so always deliver and collect your child on time.
In April 2003 the UK Government introduced a new form of registered childcare in the home called the Home Child carer scheme.
As a parent you will be able to access safe, good quality childcare in your own home, and if you are eligible, you will be able to claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit which helps towards the cost of paying for registered childcare.
The amount you receive depends on your income. For more information call the Inland Revenue Help line on 0845 300 3900.
Home childcaring issues
- Those doing home child care jobs will work from the parents' home, whereas a childminder normally cares for children from the childminder's own home. Find out how many children they care for and will they always are cared for in your home?
- Applicants can now register to become a childminder and a home childcarer at the same time, as opposed to registering first as a childminder and then going through the process of applying to become a home childcarer.
- A home childcarer, nanny or a person who is not related to you and living in your household wanting to register as a childminder in your home, has to be prepared to mind children from outside the household and cannot apply on the basis of only minding the children that live in the household.
- A nanny or person not related to you needs to obtain written permission from you to do this, and the home owner needs to adhere to all safety requirements involved when a home is used for child minding.
- Meet all the children under the childcarers supervision before you make any decision, perhaps getting all the families together to discuss home arrangements and the care of all the children.
If you are concerned about the quality of care offered by a registered childminder or home childcarer, contact OFSTED Complaints help line 0845 601 4772.
We sincerely hope that you will rapidly find the childminder jobs you are looking for, and welcome comments and suggestions on how we might improve our service to you.
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