From The Belfast Telegraph
(1st February 2007)

"Childminders in the North West are being urged to sign up to a new website.

Jacqui Harbinson, a Limavady childminder, has set up www.childmindingonline.com for other childminders and parents in the council areas of Derry, Strabane or Limavady.

Among its aims will be to help childminders publicise their services and advertise vacancies to prospective parents as well as providing computer skills for childminders.

From the BBC News Website
(24th August 2007)

Parents in Northern Ireland will be able to use a grading system to help them choose a childminder from Friday. The Quality First award covers all aspects of childminding, from promoting children's learning and development to providing good nutrition. The new accreditation scheme is being introduced by the Northern Ireland Childminders's Association. Its director Bridget Nodder said the scheme would help to reassure and inform parents. "Because childminders provide such excellent value for money, people can sometimes assume that they must compromise on quality," she said. "That's far from the truth - but we recognise that this mistaken perception does exist. "Now parents will know that those childminders with Quality First accreditation meet the highest standards of care."

The site will provide a one-stop shop where childminders can explain the type of provision available - whether it is working part time with pre-schoolers, full time with babies or providing after school care. It will also help childminders to develop skills such as setting up an email address and accessing activities for the children they care for on a daily basis.

Additionally, there will be a forum on the website for childminders to discuss issues relevant to them in their profession. To receive further information on the website contact 028 777 62618/07840 288278 or mail@childmindingonline.com."

Link to Original Article

Registered childminding is by far the most popular - and affordable - form of full-time daycare in Northern Ireland. It accounts for 76% of full-time daycare places and 44% of all childcare places in Northern Ireland. One childminder who has just received her Quality First accreditation is Sharon Shiel who looks after six children - all attending part-time - at her home in Whitehead, County Antrim. She said the Quality First training programme had enabled her to develop her own childminding skills. "While I've always tried to offer the best possible care for the children I look after, Quality First has certainly motivated me to continually reflect on what I provide."

Link to the Original Article

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, www.childmindingonline.com cannot accept responsibility or liability for any errors which have occurred. It is recommended that you always check details with childminders to ensure their service meets your requirements. Furthermore, www.childmindingonline.com cannot recommend or endorse any of the childminders listed.