Noirin Healy Magwa & Rose Murphy Waterford City & County Childcare Committees

Transcription

1 Childminding Recognition & Regulation Findings & Recommendations from An evaluation of the impact of the National Childminding Initiative on the quality of childminding in Waterford City and County Dr. Mary Daly Noirin Healy Magwa & Rose Murphy Waterford City & County Childcare Committees

2 Research Question What impact, if any, has the National Childminding Initiative, including voluntary notification and the Childminding Development Grants, had on the quality of childminding in the home in Waterford City and County?

3 Research Methodology Primary Research Questionnaires Interviews Focus Groups Art, written contributions & photographs Secondary Research Literature Review Analysis of CCC data

4 Did NCMI improve Quality of Childminding? FINDINGS: YES 80% Voluntary Notified CM 90% Notified CM 100% Parents with VN CM 82% Parents with Not CM

5 Does CMAO role impact on Quality? FINDINGS: YES - CMAO role crucial to success of NCMI: Continuity of service Building long lasting relationships & trust Telephone support & advice Supports to become a professional childminder Voluntary notification Home visits Information Training CMDG

6 CMAO Role RECOMMENDATIONS: Crucial role needs to continue Role in ensuring smooth transition to registration process Role to enhance quality of childminding service Role to implement Aistear & Síolta Clarification required on long term funding

7 Childminding Development Grant FINDINGS: 122 approvals Range of safety, childcare & play equipment & minor adaptations Very practical improvements Improve children s wellbeing Excellent incentive to voluntary notify

8 CMDG RECOMMENDATIONS: Continue as incentive to voluntary notify & participate in QAP Develop 2 phase package Start up grant of 500 Top up 500 Link to Aistear / Síolta Available annually Clarity on future funding

9 Has training impacted on Quality of Childminding? FINDINGS: Improvements in: Physical environment Health & safety Communication Children s wellbeing seen as paramount

10 Training Findings First Aid & Child Protection required for VN No national minimum training requirements Should all Childminders have a minimum level of training? YES 82% VN CM, 86% Parents with Vol Not CM YES 90% Not CM, 100% Parents with Notified CM

11 Suggested Training FINDINGS: Differences of opinion Full FETAC level 5 Play Child development Regulatory training manual handling / food handling Quality & early learning framework training Aistear / Síolta Behaviour management Business and financial management Personal & professional development

12 Voluntary Notification FINDINGS: Benefits of voluntary notification- DoS Parents felt reassured CM felt recognised as legitimate childcare providers Childcare Services Relief PRSI contributions & entitlements Encourages good business practice Advertise service locally Marker for quality assurance

13 Voluntary Notification Gaps FINDINGS: Garda Vetting named but not a requirement The voluntary notification process lacks credibility with no Garda check. 100% participants felt all CM should be Garda Vetted

14 Barriers to Voluntary Notification FINDINGS: CM concern over: Tax Social welfare entitlements Informal to formal economy Insecurity of profession

15 Voluntary Notification RECOMMENDATIONS: Address barriers, include all childminders CM in family home should be able to Voluntary Notify & avail of Childcare Services Relief Address restrictions VN CM cannot notify or be inspected if they wish Develop a national complaints procedure to denotify for CMs not fulfilling role satisfactorily All CM should be notified & inspected

16 Voluntary Notification RECOMMENDATIONS: Review self assessment process Garda vetting Proof of insurance Prior completion of QAP, First Aid & Child Protection Registration with Revenue Attendance at Aistear & Síolta sessions

17 Voluntary Notification RECOMMENDATIONS: CMAO biannual visits all Voluntary Notify & Notified CM Develop a tool to assist CMAO verify self assessment & sign off a definite checklist Formalise, record & follow up CMAO advice & guidance

18 Voluntary Notification RECOMMENDATIONS: Research reasons why parents continue to use childminders who are neither VN or Notified Terms used to describe childminders need to be reviewed & clarified by OMCYA National education awareness initiative Voluntary notification should be the norm Include VN & Not CM in CETS scheme

19 Legislation & Inspection FINDINGS: Are all CM required to notify doing so? Exclusion of school age childcare Exclusion of CM in Parents home Exclusion of CM minding 3 or less Suitability of inspection process & standardised preschool inspection tool?

20 Legislation RECOMMENDATIONS: Notified childminders should be able to claim childcare services relief Income of less 15,000 should have no impact on social welfare / ancillary benefits Tax relief for parents Develop strategies so all childminders required to notify do so

21 Legislation RECOMMENDATIONS: Review Childcare Act 1991 & Childcare Regulations 2006 Replace Notification system with registration system for all services Registration for all CM including CM in parents home Develop appropriate inspection process & tool

22 Summary Policy Recommendations Registration System for all childminding services Review Childcare Act 1991 & Childcare Regulations 2006 Develop appropriate inspection process & tool Garda Vetting mandatory for all childminders

23 Summary Policy Recommendations CMAO post funding ring fenced CPD Síolta & Aistear, Languge & Literacy Childminders included in CETS Training strategy for childminders in line with National Workforce Development Plan CMDG for childminders as incentive to register and improve quality

24 Summary Policy Recommendations Tax relief as incentive for parents who choose a registered childminder Childcare Services Relief for all childminders with no impact on SW benefits on income under 15k earned as incentive to register

25 Conclusion An evaluation of the impact of the National Childminding Initiative on the quality of childminding in Waterford City & County by Dr. Mary Daly Report commissioned by Waterford City & County Childcare Committees and Health Service Executive South November 2010 Waterford City Childcare Waterford County Go raibh maith agat! Thank you for listening!