What can significant childminder support deliver for local authorities today?
A deep dive into the childminder support contract delivered in Cambridgeshire.
In Cambridgeshire, Coram PACEY (formerly PACEY) has held contract to deliver childminding support services for over 24 years and has to tender at every renewal. This contract includes work to recruit new childminders in the area, provide extensive pre-registration support and ongoing childminder retention support. The Cambridgeshire team also support other home-based childcare professionals such as nannies and wraparound providers.
In a challenging climate for childminders where we continue to see a decline in numbers nationally, why has this support worked so well for the local authority and childminders in their area for the last 24 years, and what can we learn from their approach?
Context
In Cambridgeshire, there are 410 childminders, with 302 of those delivering government-funded entitlement sessions to 1,132 children (as of September 25).
The team delivering the contract and supporting these 410 childminders consists of one Service Manager and four Development Officers. They support all childminders, whether they are Ofsted-registered or work with a childminding agency, and whether they are members of Coram PACEY or not. The contract requires contact with 100% of childminders in every year of the contract, and this has always been achieved, ensuring that childminders do not feel isolated or unsure where to access support.
Meet the team:
Left to right: Alison Mooney (Development Officer), Carol Grange (Development Officer) Caroline Maryon (Service Manager), Deborah Townsend (Development Officer), Elaine Baker (Development Officer).
So, what are the key areas of support the team focus on?
Recruitment strategy
A large part of the team’s work involves executing a recruitment strategy. First, areas of need are identified, followed by working with partners, groups of childminders and family audiences to promote and recruit prospective childminders.
This includes:
- Social media campaigns using the Child and Family Centre contacts, as well as Barnardo’s contacts
- Networking with online groups set up by childminders
- Sending information to Jobcentre Plus leads and Family Liaison Officers for the Armed Forces
- Using registered childminders in their areas to share marketing collateral on their own social pages
- Sending information to schools to include in their parent communications
The team also have termly meetings with the 0-25 Places Planning team to look at recruitment campaigns including visiting local toddler groups, sending information to local house builders for inclusion in new homeowner packs, speaking to specific schools and Child and Family Centres.
All this work to recruit new childminders is only beneficial when there is adequate support and structure in place, all the way through pre-registration training, Ofsted registration and beyond.
