Childminder Agencies
Agenda 10.00 10.30 Arrival and networking 10.30 10.45 Welcome 10.45 11.30 Childminder Agencies Update 11.30 12.00 CMAs supporting the 30 hours 12.15 12.30 Q and A 12.30 1.30 Lunch and Networking 1.30 2.00 CMAs Registration and Inspection 2.00 2.45 Case Study 2.45 3.00 Final Q and A 3.00 Close
Childminder Agencies Update The story so far.. Success stories Ofsted update
Childminder Agencies DfE led trial Continued support following the trial (light touch) 8 agencies registered: St Bede Childminder Agency The Northumberland Church of England Academy Trio Childcare Connections Ltd Daryel Care Leap Ahead Achieving for Children City Childcare Childminding Agency Rutland Early Years Agency Limited @Home Childcare
Success story Leap Ahead Childminder Agency
Journey Consultation Planning Registration visit Operational Recruitment
Challenges Being the first Devising the processes, external and internal Designing the quality assessment tool and paperwork Sustainability
Our first childminders
Successes Recruitment Website http://leapahead.org.uk/ Training for childminders Launch event
Full Membership
Pay As You Go
Considerations Business plan, SWOT analysis Statement of Purpose Staffing Application / registration Consultation with childminders Events for childminders Additional services
Setting up a Childminder Agency The Statement of Purpose must include: The aims and objectives of the CMA The organisational structure of the CMA The CMA s arrangements for registering providers The CMA s arrangements in relation to training and monitoring providers The CMA s arrangements for ensuring provision is of a sufficient standard
Setting up a Childminder Agency The CMA s arrangements for communicating the outcome of quality assurance visits to parents of children who are cared for by its registered providers The CMA s procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are cared for by its registered providers The CMA s arrangements for disseminating information to parents and prospective parents who are seeking information about childcare provision offered by registered providers of that CMA
Setting up a Childminder Agency The CMA s procedures for taking enforcement action in relation to a registered provider The CMA s procedure for dealing with complaints A description of any arrangements the CMA may have for offering parents alternative provision when one of its registered providers is unable to provide childcare as a result of sickness or for other reasons* A description of any additional services or facilities offered by the childminder agency*
Support for organisations considering registering as a Childminder Agency
Consultancy Support 4Children have a team of consultants to support you if you wish to register as a CMA Based around the country Experienced and knowledgeable about CMAs Funding only available for support until March 2016
Marketing and Communications support Ashley Tilley
TARGET AUDIENCES: CMAs Childminders Parents Local Authorities
RESOURCES EVENTS DIGITAL COMMS PRESS STRATEGIES & TACTICS:
RESOURCES CMA toolkit registration and marketing: Electronic toolkit with information and resources on how to register as and market a CMA Template flyers: Template flyers for agencies to promote their agency to new and existing childminders FAQs: Frequently asked questions targeted at potential agencies and childminders thinking of joining an agency Myth Busters: Facts and myths about childminder agencies Case studies: Case studies highlighting agencies, including profiles on successful agencies, POV of a childminder and benefits of an agencyregistered childminder Local authorities: Advantages to LAs having a CMA CMAs Parents Childminders Local Authorities
EVENTS Host workshops for organizations interested in becoming a CMA Host networking forums for CMAs to share knowledge and best practices Host 1:1 meetings for registered CMAs on how to market their business regionally Exhibit at industry conferences & tradeshows (e.g. Nursery World Show, Feb 2016; Childcare Expo, Mar 2016) to promote CMAs CMAs Childminders Parents
DIGITAL COMMS Social Media: Develop messages for organizations, government, childminders and parents and promote consistently across appropriate channels. Support CMAs with social media advice and pre-developed content E-Newsletter: Utilise current newsletter to send out information about registering as a CMA, events and workshops, and encouraging childminders to join agencies Website: Update Foundation Years and 4Children websites to host information and resources for CMAs, childminders and parents CMAs Parents Childminders Local Authorities
PRESS Editorial calendar: Develop editorial calendar for key media opportunities throughout the project Regional press: Support CMAs through regional media opportunities (new agency openings, childcare stories, etc.) Sector press: Pitch positive news stories about CMAs to sector press (government news, new agencies, childminder testimonials, etc.) Business press: Pitch stories to Careers sections on childminding as a possible career Parenting press: Pitch stories on how to choose the right childcare and the benefits of agencies Government press: Feature case studies on successful CMA/ local authority partnerships and importance of collaboration Childminders Parents Local Authorities
Support Available In small groups discuss the type of support you think would be required to set up as a Childminder Agency.
Toolkit
Toolkit Information: Policy statement Ofsted handbook Ofsted Draft Inspection Framework DfE Step by Step guide Children and Families Act 2014 CMA FAQs Ofsted application forms The regulations
Toolkit Resources Business planning tool CMA business modelling Key questions for agencies Ofsted presentation to CMAs Statement of purpose aid
Childminder Agencies (CMAs) and the 30 hours offer
Outline Quick update on 30hours Why CMAs? CMAs and the post-2017 childcare market
Update on 30 hours implementation The election pledge: give working parents of 3- and 4- year- olds 30 hours of free childcare a week increase the average funding rate childcare providers receive from government On 1 June the Prime Minister promised: to start the roll-out of the entitlement from 2016 a year earlier than planned to launch a review the cost of providing childcare, to inform increased funding rates a new Government Implementation Task Force to drive delivery To inform delivery, DfE has engaged: c.20,000 parents 2,000 representatives of the childcare sector 750 childcare providers 10 large employers (Carillion, Rolls Royce, BT, John Lewis) who hosted 25 events in total for their employees
Update on 30 implementation (2) Introduced Childcare Bill on 1 June: Completed progress through both houses in January 2016 Now awaiting a date for Royal Assent Pledged to protect high-quality childcare by retaining existing ratios and workforce qualifications. Developing a joint online application system for free entitlement and taxfree childcare, providing a single, joined-up experience for parents. Currently consulting on a parental right to request wraparound and holiday childcare at the school where their child attends (up to KS3) from September 2016, and a right for providers to request use of school premises to provide such childcare.
Update on 30 hours Funding Total Government annual spend on childcare will increase from 5bn in 2015-16 to over 6bn by 2019-20 Spending Review announced: over 1bn more per year on free childcare (from 2.8bn in 2015-16 to 3.9bn by 2019-20) including 300m to increase the average hourly rate childcare providers receive 3/4 year olds from 4.56 to 4.88 2 year olds from 5.09 to 5.39 50m capital funding to support growth, as well as delivering an estimated 4,000 additional childcare places as part of the free schools programme. Published the first major review of costs in November 2015 - Review of the Cost of Childcare in England Consulting soon on a fairer funding system to maximise funding passed on to providers.
Update on 30 hours Early Implementers The government formally announced Early Implementer Package on Tuesday 2nd February. Press coverage and sector reaction to announcement has been very positive. The Department received 69 Local Authority applications, developed in partnership with childcare providers, as part of a formal Expressions of Interest process. These were rigorously assessed based on a selection criteria agreed by the Ministerial Task Force. Around 5,000 children residing in York; Northumberland; Newham; Hertfordshire; Portsmouth; Swindon; Staffordshire; and, Wigan will benefit from thirty hours of high quality, free childcare from September 2016. York will offer all eligible children within their area a place under the Childcare Bill provisions, so the online eligibility checking system will be tested. Given the scale of the challenge, the department has also set aside 4million to support an additional 25 Local Authorities to develop innovative flexible childcare for working parents, and to make sure that we can meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs, in homeless working families, and in rural communities.
Update on 30 hours Early implementers will operate as six regional clusters 8 LA Early Implementer areas will provide some working families with the additional 15 hours a year ahead of schedule, allowing us to test delivery of the additional hours in preparation for full roll-out. This approach will see LA work collaboratively to build momentum around a common purpose. 25 Early Implementer Innovator areas will provide valuable learning to support roll-out of the 30 hours offer by developing approaches to address key delivery issues on SEND, flexibility & quality, sufficiency and work incentives.
Why CMAs? Our Vision for the future. The Government wants to see more high quality childcare places available so that the promise of 30 hours of free childcare can be delivered. It wants these places to be provided by a range of providers schools, private, independent and voluntary establishments and childminders, and if appropriate, partnerships between different providers so that childcare arrangements work better for working parents. The challenge. 30 hours signals a step change in the delivery of childcare. The government needs to ensure there are sufficient places available and that they are the type that parents need to fit best with their working pattern and family circumstances. CMAs are part of the solution. Home based childcare delivered by childminders is a choice that many parents want and value. CMAs are designed to help increase the number of childminders in the profession and deliver improved quality. The government expects that the market will need to adapt and expand in order to deliver the extended entitlement. CMAs will play a key role in the market as organisations that can support childminders and other providers respond to the challenge.
Why CMAs? What are the government s aims for CMAs? To attract new childminders to the profession To encourage those childminders not currently providing the free entitlement to do so To help retain and support existing childminders To promote the quality and professionalism of the childminding workforce To support childminders by providing a range of services such as marketing, administrative support, networking, training and development opportunities To improve the service to parents by providing regular updates on the quality of their childminder and potentially matching services, access to holiday and sickness cover Where do they fit into the local market? The government wants all childminders to have the choice to register either with a CMA or with Ofsted (which means we want an agency operating in every area) CMAs should help increase and sustain the numbers of high quality childminders CMAs can promote a seamless service to parents by linking childminders and other providers
What part can CMAs play in the childcare market post-2017? Sufficient places Flexible childcare What is needed? Providing the type of childcare that parents want Children with special educational needs and disabilities are well supported Increase the capacity of childminders What can CMAs offer? CMAs should increase the numbers of childminders who are known to provide a flexible service CMAs can help childminders work with other providers to increase flexibility CMAs can act as one-stop shop and provide a matching service CMAs can help childminders with additional training, sharing of best practice and other support CMAs can take on some of the administrative burdens and other functions such as marketing, contracting with local schools or other providers
Questions Any questions? What can government do to support the creation and success of CMAs? Further information www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-childcarecosts
Registration and inspection of childminder agencies February 2016
How Ofsted will register childminder agencies
The registered person The registration system uses the term registered person. This covers both individuals and organisations such as companies, partnerships and committees. The registered person has overall responsibility for the provision and is legally responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements and regulations.
What must I do to register? You must: complete an application form complete a suitability declaration and consent to checks form; this must also be completed by anyone else who is involved in the application provide Ofsted with a copy of your statement of purpose be familiar with the Early Years Foundation Stage, and/or the requirements of the Childcare Register, before applying pay the application fee to Ofsted
Checks Ofsted carries out a range of checks on the person or persons who will run the agency: Disclosure and Barring Service checks (including joining the online updating service) Local authority checks
Suitability of staff and other persons on the premises Ofsted does not carry out checks on your staff members, including the manager or your agency (if you have one). It is your responsibility to ensure that all staff members, and other people living or working on the premises, are suitable. The level and type of checks you should carry out will depend on the role that the person is occupying (for example, whether they will have access to children cared for by your childminders). It is your responsibility also to carry out checks on the childminders you register Ofsted cannot do this for you.
Suitability of staff and other persons on the premises You must ensure that you have robust recruitment and vetting procedures in place. At the time of the registration visit and where applicable, the inspector may ask you to provide evidence that you are carrying out full checks on all staff, for example, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosures, references and qualifications.
The registration visit The inspector will: use your statement of purpose to assess your suitability to register as an agency check how you intend to deliver the requirements for your childminders check your understanding of how childminders must deliver the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and/or the Childcare Register check your arrangements for ensuring that the childminders you register are suitable and can deliver the EYFS/CR requirements check your arrangements for monitoring the quality of your childminders
After the visit When all checks are complete Ofsted will send you either: a letter granting registration and your registration certificate or a notice of intention to refuse registration.
Questions about registering childminder agencies
How Ofsted inspects childminder agencies
Our duty to inspect childminder agencies Ofsted is under a duty to inspect all childminder agencies, once registered. The Secretary of State sets out in a letter to the Chief Inspector the frequency of childminder agency inspection. The current remit letter says Ofsted must inspect all childminder agencies: within 12 months of them registering their first childminder thereafter, at least once in a three-year period following their previous inspection
The inspection arrangements Before the inspection: Lead inspector plans the inspection Initial telephone call to the agency Considers information provided by the agency, including the agency s statement of purpose Decides on the sample of childminders to be visited as part of the inspection Briefs other inspectors on the team
The inspection arrangements During the inspection: Lead inspector holds an initial meeting with the agency s lead person (either on site or by telephone) Inspection team gathers a range of evidence, for example through discussion, observation and looking at policies and procedures Inspection team visits a sample of childminders registered with the agency, and may case-track other childminders
Sampling childminders Lead inspector decides the size and selection of the sample Purpose of sampling: Assess the accuracy of the agency s quality assessment of the childminder Check that monitoring is sufficiently rigorous to improve the improve the childminder s practice Review the impact of the training, guidance and support offered by the agency to the childminder Important: the sample visit is not an inspection of the childminder by Ofsted
Reaching final judgements Inspector will judge the overall effectiveness of the childminder agency, taking into account: The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the agency The quality of the agency s services The impact of the agency s services on the quality of education and care provided by its childminders These three areas are judged as effective or ineffective The overall judgement is whether the agency is effective or not effective
The inspection arrangements After the inspection: The lead inspector gives feedback to the lead person The lead inspector writes a report, based on the judgements made during the inspection (published on the Ofsted website) Ofsted quality assures the inspection and report If the agency is judged as not effective, it will be overseen by a named HMI, and will need to develop an action plan for improvement
How Ofsted regulates childminder agencies
Regulating agencies Ofsted has regulatory powers in respect of childminder agencies This includes enforcement powers, to: Prosecute an agency for certain matters Cancel an agency s registration with Ofsted Ofsted does not have any regulatory powers in respect of individual childminders registered with an agency (other than granting disqualification waivers) An agency has broadly the same enforcement powers in respect of its childminders as Ofsted has in respect of childminders registered with Ofsted
Questions about the inspection and regulation of childminder agencies
Essential reading Department for Education s guidance for childminder agencies: Childminder agencies: a step-by-step guide Ofsted s guidance on regulation and inspection Childminder agency handbook Childminder agencies: inspection handbook
Any final questions?
Further Information Contact Us: E: CMA@4children.org.uk D: 020 7522 6956 W: FoundationYears.org.uk/child-minders
Questions