Child-minding profession has almost been a monopoly of women for long, but now men too have entered the field giving the women healthy competition. In England and Wales alone there are now about 80,000 registered child-minders, as per the National Child-minding Association records. According to a definition in the Children’s Act, 1989, a child-minder is responsible for looking after for over two hours daily one or more kids under age eight on his/her domestic premises for money or profit.
In England, professional child-minders need to register with the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). While in Wales, registration is done by different authorities such as the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales, the local Health and Social Services Board or Trust in Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. The registered child-minders are regularly scrutinized by these authorities. The inspection reports have been put on the Ofsted website since 2005, and the customers can ask the child-minder if they want to see copies of the reports prior to this year.
There are national standards guidelines that regulate and promote quality service by the child-minders. They and all the above 16 aged members of their household have to be cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau before getting the license. It is followed by interview and inspection of the premises. Subsequently, they have to undergo a registration and first aid training course.
Each child-minder is allotted the number of kids according to the capacity of their premises. The regulation binds all child-minders to display prominently the number of kids they are authorized to look after. Ofsted usually allows a child-minder to look after six kids including his/her own kids. Of these only three could be below age five.
Most parents find the services of child-minders very useful and convenient. The kids get opportunity to spend time in a warm, friendly and secure homely atmosphere, where they have other kids to play and socialize with. Their siblings too can stay with them. Unlike in a nursery, the child-minder is never transferred and is a permanent fixture in the set up. The services are extended to the kids even after enrolling at schools. Thence, it is no wonder that child-minders have become the most sought after providers, second only to trusted relatives.
Posted on May 8th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Baby, Child Care, Play, Toddler
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