main content Childminding Networks get approval

Bromley Early Years and Childcare Service and Bromley Mencap have received approval for four of their Childminding Networks, under the National Childminding Association, Children Come First quality assurance scheme.

Working in partnership, the two services have four networks in operation, with around 50 registered childminders assigned to them. Childminders on the networks are regularly visited by Childminding Co-ordinators and offer high standards of care to families. The networks offer specialist childminding support for families-in-need across the borough, and over the years have helped out hundreds of children and families.

The networks are:

Special Needs Network – Early Years Childcare Service

Community Network – Early Years Childcare Service

Bromley Mencap Network Plus

Bromley Mencap Network

Cllr Ernest Noad, Bromley’s Executive Member for Children and Young People, said: “These networks are a positive factor in ensuring the provision of high quality childcare in Bromley”.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• About Children Come First

The National Childminding Association’s (NCMA) Children Come First initiative is a quality assurance scheme for childminding networks. Over two thirds of the childminding networks have chosen to become quality-assured by NCMA Children Come First because it's:

• the only quality assurance scheme for childminding networks recognised across England and Wales;
• been endorsed by the government's Investors in Children scheme, which recognises quality assurance schemes that make a real difference to developing high quality childcare. You can find out more about the scheme at http://www.surestart.gov.uk/;
• well-recognised across the childcare sector;
• designed especially for childminding networks and childminders;
• developed to give networks a strong working framework, which encourages them to plan for the future.
  
• For more information about finding a childminder contact the Children Information Services 020 8464 0276.