Coram PACEY has been advising on an exciting new project funded by the Nuffield Foundation, exploring what quality looks and feels like for under-twos in childminding provision in England – an extension of the ‘baby room’ project looking at nursery provision.
The team has published its first report today, titled Childminding Babies: A Review of the Global Evidence on Conceptualising, Measuring and Supporting Quality in Childminding Provision for 0-2 Year Olds.
Report findings
Looking at evidence from academic articles and literature, the report reviews key findings about childminding provision for babies, resulting in the following themes:
- Conceptualising quality: The report highlights the many unique and distinct benefits of childminding for babies, including the strong relationship-centred approach, continuity of case, close partnerships with families and emotionally responsive relationships. However childminding provision has been overlooked in research and policy, with far fewer academic studies published compared to group-based provision.
- Measuring quality: Measures of quality that currently exist do not fully capture what childminding offers for babies and families.
- Supporting quality: To improve quality in childminding settings, recommendations focus on tailored CPD opportunities and support, mentoring, coaching and peer networks. As childminder wellbeing is engrained in quality, approaches must also address isolation and other workload pressures facing the sector.
Policy recommendations
The report makes several important childminder-specific policy recommendations:
- Recognise babies in childminding as a distinct policy priority.
- Avoid adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to quality.
- Invest in growing childminders’ professional networks.
- Recognise childminder wellbeing as a quality issue.
- Develop a clearer statement of purpose for childminding provision for babies.
You can read the full review and the other resources on the www.childmindingbabies.blog website.
The research is led by Dr Mona Sakr, Dr Sara Bonetti and Kayla Halls and funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Coram PACEY members can also look out for an article from the research team in our next Childcare Professional magazine!
Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges, Head of Coram PACEY comments:
“This is an exciting and much-needed piece of research, and we strongly welcome it. It is fantastic to see the work of the childminding sector recognised, and to celebrate the distinctive contribution childminders make to families with the very youngest children, helping give babies the best possible start in life.
Many of the qualities we know are so valuable for babies are intrinsic to childminding: the calm and familiarity of a smaller setting, homely environments, strong and consistent nurturing relationships, and everyday learning experiences. We highlighted this in our Magic of Childminding campaign and report.
That is why it is so valuable and refreshing to see a research and policy paper directly recognise these benefits and make childminder-specific recommendations, rather than treating childminders as an afterthought to group-based provision.
We will continue to support this research to help ensure that babies in childminding are given the attention they deserve in future research, policy and practice, and that childminders across the sector see their experiences and the value of the provision they offer reflected in this important work.”
Magic of Childminding: Babies
Provision for babies is one of the key features that Coram PACEY highlighted through our wider Magic of Childminding campaign, celebrating the unique role that childminders play in supporting children and families. Our full report brings this to life through evidence and case studies from childminders, including examples of the distinctive care, relationships and experiences they provide for babies. You can read the full report and explore the case studies to find out more about the magic of childminding.
FREE Childminding Babies conferences for childminders
The research team behind the Childminding Babies project is hosting FREE Saturday conferences for childminders to enjoy inspirational talks and networking in London, York and Bristol.
Whilst the York event is fully booked (you can join a waitlist) there are spaces available for London and Bristol. More information here.
