Childminders
CHILDMINDING WEEK 2012 (April 21st - 28th)
The annual Childminders' Seminar for Galway City and County took place on Saturday, 28th April. Over 40 attendees enjoyed an interactive workshop on Incorporating Outdoor Play into a childminding setting; an inspiring workshop on using music with children and an informative information session with Galway's Pre-school Services leader. Childminders enjoyed their annual network lunch afterwards and all were in agreement that this year's Childminders' Seminar was another success. Click here for more.
For further information about events during Childminding Week, contact Colette Coughlan, Childminder Advisory Officer at 091 752039 or email colette@galwaychildcare.com
Past National Childminding Week events have traditionally been fun-filled and well-attended by childminders, their children and even parents all over Galway City and County. Events have included a 'Fire and Ice' show; Storytellers and'Scéalaí' as well as workshops on Celebrating Difference & Diversity; Creativity in the Home and on the Health, Welfare and Development of the Child in your Care.
Scroll down further for a look back at previous Childminding Week events.
NCIP CHILDMINDING DEVELOPMENT GRANT (CMDG) 2012
In February 2012, the DCYA announced that a total budget of €200,000 will be available nationally for Childminder Development Grants (CMDGs) in 2012. This will be released in two tranches (€100k each tranche) (end of March & July) on a request basis. Meanwhile, all childminders on our database have been informed of the initial detail regarding the funding. If you would like to apply for this funding as a new or existing childminder, please contact Colette Coughlan, Childminder Advisory Officer for an application form and to arrange an assessment. Applicants must state exactly what the funding request is for and be realistic in their needs analysis and requests. As per previous CMDG, applicants must complete relevant training. The deadline for receipt of applications by the Galway City and County Childcare Committee for the second round of grants is Wednesday, 20th June 2012.
ECCE SCHEME
Re-entry and new completed application forms for September 2012 must be returned to the Galway City and County Childcare Committee no later than Wednesday, March 21st. Contact the office for details on 091 752039.
SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR CHILDMINDERS
Please note Business Workshop & network meeting has been changed to Monday, 16th April at Menlo Park, 7.30pm. Click here to view the complete range of training available to childminders this Spring. Another schedule is due to be published in April, which will include further First Aid and Child Protection courses.
To make sure we meet your training needs, we've devised a questionnaire for you to answer that will help us meet your specific training needs. Click here to download. Please return completed questionnaire to colette@galwaychildcare.com.
If you feel there is any further training we can offer childminders, feel free to contact us. In 2011, over 250 childminders in Galway City & County benefited from targetted training based on feedback from the questionnaire. We continue to urge childminders to attend all relevant training in the name of the continual professionalisation of a service you can be proud of.
Click on links below to view photos from previous events:
CLUSTER NETWORKS AND PLAYGROUPS
Please note the following dates/times for cluster network meetings organised by childminders for childminders and their children - all are welcome:
Tuesdays - Ballybane Library (free), 10am
Friday am - Bonkers, Oranmore (small charge per child applies)
For information on these and other possible opportunities, please contact Colette on 091 752039.
Childminders are currently researching new opportunities to continue to meet in Clusters around the city and county. Taking place in a community hall, library or any suitable venue, the aim is for childminders - whose role can sometimes be quite isolating - to have a place to bring their children along to meet and play with other childminders and their minded children. Childminders also have the opportunity to pool resources, knowledge, support and information as well as identifying any local challenges that can be brought to the Committee. The Galway City and County Childcare Committee is happy to assist and facilitate these networks - for example through room hire, publicising information or offering sports equipment. The main areas of interest so far are: Monivea; Claregalway; Tuam; Gort; Craughwell and Westside (City). Please contact us with your proposals / suggestions or for further details.
NETWORK MEETINGS
Our next network meeting has been changed to Monday, 16th April at 7.30pm sharp (Menlo Park Hotel) and will include an important workshop on the 'Business of Childminding' - something all childminders feel they should know more about! Please contact our office for details and to book. In March, we welcomed a very informative session on Meningitis, its signs and symptoms from ACT for Meningitis. Childminders also took part in an informal workshop on a Critical Incident Plan for childminders, who are particularly vulnerable when facing a critical incident due to the fact that they mostly work on their own.
Childminders are, as always, welcome to bring toys and equipment to swap with others present (see further below for details) and are welcome to stay afterwards for refreshments. For any childminders who cannot attend, please contact your Childminder Liaison . Jean Register liaises with childminders in the City and West areas and Hannah Collins with childminders in the East county areas. Hannah and Jean are an extra informal point of contact for childminders to gather issues of pertinence to childminders and communicate these to the Galway City and County Childcare Committee through the Childminder Advisory Officer.
The aim of Childminders' Network Meetings is to share information and expertise in relation to supporting and improving quality childminding. As well as providing a mechanism for peer support, the network meetings also assist the Galway Childcare Committee in identifying training needs and gaps, which can be served by the Committee. In addition, relevant training workshops are regularly facilitated at these meetings - recent examples include Positive Behaviour Management; Fire Safety; Dealing with Loss and Separation; 'Minding Your Business' and Manual Handling. Mostly, however, the networks are for childminders, who work alone, to liaise with other like-minded individuals to swap stories and questions and benefit from each other's experience.
Please support your local network. If there are any issues you would like to put on the agenda for the next meeting, please contact CMAO Colette Coughlan on 091 752039.
Accommodating Children with Additional Needs
A recent network meeting saw Galway Childminders introduced to the new Protocol for the Inclusion of Children with Additional Needs in a Childcare Setting. Many Childminders have thought about including children with additional needs in their service but were not sure how to go about doing this. The Galway Childcare Committee is happy to assist and advise Childminders with an interest in this area. We are also holding a seminar on planning for inclusion in October - see our training schedule for details.
QUALITY CHILDMINDING
A new poster and flier celebrating quality childminding was launched at our our Annual Conference. Parents are advised on what to look for when seeking a QUALITY childminder. Click here to download flier - if you would like a poster, please contact our offices and we'll send one out to you. [Irish version also available].
Meanwhile, Childminders are welcome to attend our Quality Awareness Programme - a 12-hour introductory course to Childminding - contact Colette for details or visit our training calendar for upcoming dates.
CHILDMINDERS' EQUIPMENT SWAP
Childminders are often interested in whether the Galway City and County Childcare Committee has any available second-hand equipment or toys. Our last network meeting 'toy swap' was a great success. We've had a number of queries on equipment since and while it's up to you childminders to arrange the swap, we can facilitate the exchange of information. You can e-mail the Committee with any requests or offers of toys and equipment and the Childminding Advisory Officer (CMAO) will upload the information here once we have a list. Contact CMAO, Colette Coughlan for further details: colette@galwaychildcare.com
CURRENT REQUESTS:
- baby equipment, including cot
- children's bicycles for outdoor play
- outdoor equipment
CURRENT OFFERS:
- Silvercross Pushchair
- Quinny Carrycot
- Various used soft toys, puzzles and jigsaws - good condition
CMAO VISITS
The Childminding Advisory Officer (CMAO) work hours are daily from 8am to 4pm and is available to support childminders. Meanwhile, if any Childminders, or persons thinking of childminding (but not sure!) would like to request a support visit, please phone 091 752039 or email colette@galwaychildcare.com. The role of the CMAO is to support childminders or potential childminders in offering a quality service to parents and their children - The Galway City and County Childcare Committee has a number of resources that can help with this. Phone now for a starter pack and any further information.
Colette Coughlan, Childminding Advisory Officer
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