Cornwall Council is launching a series of webinars to encourage more people to become a registered childminder.
Across the UK the number of child minders has dropped dramatically since 2015, according to data from OFSTED - a situation made worse by the pandemic.
To try and encourage more people to take up the rewarding opportunities childminding offers, these webinars are a chance to meet current child minders and ask questions about the opportunities available in Cornwall.
More information on these can be found on the Family Information Service website (supportingcornwall.org.uk).
Service Director for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Lisa Harvey, said: “Ensuring every child has access to a high quality of provision of care and early years education is one of our top priorities and child minders play a big part in that.
“Becoming a registered child minder is a very rewarding career and it can offer you the flexibility to work around your own family commitments. But don’t take my word for it, our free webinars are a great opportunity to hear from people doing the job already.”
Childminders must, of course, provide high quality childcare – but childminding is far more than that. Childminders are inspected by Ofsted and must demonstrate how they provide a high-quality learning environment for babies and children 0-5 years, including teaching them new things and supporting their ongoing interests through a play-based curriculum which aims to ensure each child makes excellent progress towards the statutory Early Learning Goals.
Cabinet Member for Children and Families Barbara Ellenbroek said: “Our aim is to give every child in Cornwall the best start in life and to support our early years sector. As well as the webinars, new child minders will be able to access support from a mentor through the Quality Childminding in Cornwall or QCC.
“They will also have access to training and on-going support from a mentor; so there has never been a better time to get involved or to find out more.”
For more information on becoming a childminder, to sign up for the webinars or if you have questions, please visit: Becoming a Childminder | Care and Support in Cornwall
