Maidenhead & Windsor

Parents in the Maidenhead Royal Borough now have greater choice and flexibility when it comes to nursery education for their pre-school children following a childminding 'first'.

Four childminders are leading the way in providing nursery education in addition to childcare in their own homes. Sam Chalk, Katrina Fagence, Jo Mills and Angela O'Connell recently became the first in the Maidenhead Royal Borough to qualify to teach pre-school children as part of a national accreditation scheme.

Cllr Cynthia Pitteway, lead member for education, said: "This is a real milestone in childcare in the Royal Borough and offers greater choice and flexibility for parents when making decisions about their child's day-care arrangements."

Kim Eales, childminding officer for the Maidenhead Early Years and Childcare Service, said: "While we have plenty of high-calibre pre-school settings in the Royal Borough, under certain circumstances some parents may feel their child would be better off enjoying their nursery education in the more personal and less formal setting of a childminder's home."

Training for accreditation takes place over six months and includes curriculum planning, business practice, recognising learning opportunities, follow-up planning, working in partnership with parents and the inclusion of children with special educational needs.

The childminders were subject to additional monitoring and observations by Kim and the foundation stage support team of qualified teachers.

As members of the accredited network the four childminders can now access the nursery education funding which is administered by the local authority.

There is a further group of childminders ready to undertake the next stage of accreditation training.

There was further good news for the Maidenhead Early Years and Childcare Service as the National Childminding Association (NCMA) has re-approved the borough's Children Come First network of registered childminders. There are 18 childminders in the network, all offering quality assured childcare to children and their families. Being part of the network means a childminder has undertaken additional training and their childcare practice is regularly monitored.

For further information regarding the Children Come First network and what it can offer call the Children's Information Service (CIS) on 01753 869100.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead