Supporting Childminders in County Waterford

Information

• Childminders can contact WCCC any time for advice and guidance on any childminding issues.
• Childminders are also welcome to drop in to the office to avail of  information leaflets and books on a range of childcare topics.  
• The childminding Advisory Officer is available to visit the childminders home for advice and guidance on a range of issues.

Networking

Monthly play mornings are provided for  parents, childminders and children at Run a Muck in Tramore (last Tuesday of the month).

Regular night time meetings also provide you with a chance to meet others in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and discuss childminding issues.

Training

All childminders are encouraged to participate in training, which are subsidised. Examples of regular courses include: Refresher first aid, child welfare & protection, behaviour management, food handling, physical activities with children, food & nutrition, manual handling, arts & crafts and Quality Awareness Programme etc.

Quality Awareness Programme

For practical help in setting up a professional childminding service from your home, this free 10 hour training course will provide you with all the support and information you need.  The course covers roles & responsibilities of childminding, insurance, establishing routines with children, positive discipline, health & safety, food & nutrition, creating a good play environment and a practical hands on art & craft session.   The course usually runs over 5 weekday nights.

Professional Development Portfolio

This training can be used to document and track experiences and training you have particapated in.  The folder & training provides a way of presenting a picture of your professional career to date including experiences and training you have participated in.  The portfolio can be used to create an extended CV and examine gaps and opportunities for you in the future.

Voluntary Notification

We recommend all childminders to avail of the supports of voluntary notification and be recognised as a professional childcare provider.  By voluntary notifiying you can avail of:

• €15,000 Tax Exemption 
• News bulletins & training calendars etc
• Text reminders of upcoming events
• Discount Card
• Networking Opportunities.
• Childminding Development Grants are not available for 2011

Each Childminder receives a step by step guide to becoming a Professional Childminder which contains a hugh amount of very practical information in running a professional childminding service from your home. The guide contains information on insurance, survey of childming charges, training information, record forms for new children eg medication forms, working agreements with parents etc., sample policies & procedures for running a childminding service, information on the €15,000 tax exemption, and information on a range of other topics from Tips for Toilet Training (word .doc, 98 kbs)  to healthy eating.

Directory of Services

Waterford County Childcare Committee provides a list of all childcare services in county Waterford to parents seeking childcare.  The Directory of Services lists Voluntary Notified and Notified Childminders as well as all the play schools, Montessori, play groups and naionrai, full day care, after school facilities and parent and toddler groups in the county.

Discounts

Notified & Voluntary Notified childminders are issued with a card which can be used to avail of up to 10% discount in selected childcare stores.