'CHILDMINDING TOUCHES LIVES' - NICMA celebrate 25 years

Welcome to the first edition of the 2009 Childminding Support Group Newsletter.
I hope you will find the content of interest to your Group members; any contributions from
Support Groups will be welcome for future editions.
We have enclosed a number of copies to enable circulation to all group members. Email
lyn.bradley@nicma.org if you wish to receive additional copies.
If you wish to submit information, please contact Lyn Bradley in the NICMA office by
telephone on 028 9181 1015 or e-mail your articles to lyn.bradley@nicma.org
If you have any comments or feedback on any of the articles included in this edition,
please contact either myself or Lyn in the NICMA office – we would love to hear from you.
Jenny Adair
Assistant Director
‘CHILDMINDING TOUCHES LIVES’ - NICMA celebrate 25 years
In 2009 NICMA – the Childminding Association will celebrate 25 years as a charity and
membership organisation supporting and promoting the childminding sector. Looking back
over the years it is clear that Childminding really has touched the lives of many thousands
of families, who, without the benefit of reliable childminding, would have been unable to
manage their work and family responsibilities. NICMA, as the sole organisation in Northern
Ireland supporting childminding, has grown from a small operation of a group of
childminders to a professional organisation with a staff team covering the entire province.
Our ultimate purpose over the 25 years has always been to promote and support
childminding in order to enhance the childminding experience for children. The range of
our work includes:
• Childminding Development focussed very much on recruitment and retention of
childminders and promoting childminding as a career
• Childminding Networks attached to SureStart projects providing a home-based
childcare option for children and families
• Training and Quality initiatives to help develop and enhance the skills and
knowledge of childminders
• Information, Advice & Vacancy services for both childminders, parents and others to
help with all aspects of managing a quality childminding service
Some of the ways in which we intend to celebrate 2009 are detailed below; if you would
like to be involved in any of these events, either as a Childminder, parent or supporter of
NICMA please contact us on 0871 200 2063 or e-mail to info@nicma.org.
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25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS – 2009
Theme for year ‘CHILDMINDING TOUCHES LIVES…’
MONTH
ACTIVITY
Launch of 25th anniversary publication
MAY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Ben Nevis Challenge – 16 th
NICMA Week – W/C 11th May
May
Stakeholder Event – 20 May
Finger Painting Record Zoo day 20 th August
Launch of Jubilee Childminder of Year
NICMA AGM Friday 16 October / Evening reception
25th Anniversary Conference for childminders –
‘Childminding touches lives…’ 17 th October
Final of Jubilee Childminder of Year
As we prepare to celebrate NICMA’s 25 th Anniversary during 2009, we intend to
introduce a number of incentives to reward and thank NICMA members for their loyalty
throughout the years:-
MEMBERSHIP LOYALTY DISCOUNT
Have you been a loyal NICMA member for a number of years? In 2009 NICMA intend to
reward and thank those members who have provided a number of continuous years
service to NICMA. If you have been a member of NICMA continuously for 5 years or more,
you may be able to receive discount on your membership fee. Have a look at what you
may be entitled to:-
Award classification No. of years service Membership fee
Bronze member 5 - 7years £95.00
Silver member 8 - 10 years £ 90.00
Gold member Over 10 years £85.00
Telephone NICMA on 08712002063 to see if you qualify for a discount this year.
DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP FOR CHILDMINDING SUPPORT GROUP MEMBERS
Enclosed with the Group Newsletter are a number of discounted membership vouchers for
distribution to your Childminding Support Group members.
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The vouchers, when completed, will entitle members of your support group to a £5.00
discount off NICMA membership for the coming year 2009 - 2010.
This additional discount initiative has been devised to reward and thank Childminding
Support Group members for their loyalty to NICMA over the years and to offer an incentive
to childminders to join their local Childminding Support Group. This discount is in
addition to the membership loyalty scheme mentioned above.
NICMA BEN NEVIS CHARITY CHALLENGE
Every year NICMA has to raise thousands of pounds to promote high standards of
childcare. We really need your help to continue providing our services.
NICMA has got together with Charitytrek to organise a fantastic fundraising challenge for
adventure seekers. We are inviting you to scale the highest peak in Scotland in May 2009.
While you do not have to be a seasoned climber, this event is a real endurance test
providing a mental as well as a physical challenge but the sense of achievement on
completion will be worth every step. We hope to raise a whopping £25,000 through this
challenge and would be delighted if you could help us. We are asking each person to raise
a minimum of £500.00 in order to take part. For more information please contact
Madeline Donnelly at 0871 200 2063 or email madeline.donnelly@nicma.org
NICMA WEEK
11 – 17 MAY 2009
NICMA Week this year will run from 11 – 17 May and will be an excellent opportunity to
promote NICMA services and to raise the profile of registered childminders.
The NICMA Week theme this year will focus on how registered childminders promote
children’s language in a home based environment.
‘TOP TIPS’ ON HOW TO PROMOTE CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE
1. Set up a story telling session
2. Organise a book week or book fare
3. Make your own story sack
4. Develop a book corner to stimulate interest in reading
5. Review the books you read to your children share the findings with your local
childminding support group members, other childminders and parents.
6. Provide writing or drawing opportunities to extend children’s learning from story
telling sessions
7. Plan a music session make it fun create your own musical instruments to beat out
the rhythms sound out the words
8. Offer children activities to promote talking & listening – e.g. set up an interest table,
plan a nature walk, use puppets
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9. Use role play opportunities – dressing up sessions; linked to stories or film
characters
10. Plan a trip to your local library
Most journalists and some parents do not understand the unique childcare service that
registered childminders provide therefore it’s our job to tell them. NICMA Week is a perfect
opportunity to gain positive publicity for registered childminders, the Childminding Support
Groups and NICMA.
What can you do to publicise and promote registered childminding and events in
your local area during NICMA Week?
• Plan your event well in advance
• Advertise your event in local schools, post offices, health centres, banks, libraries,
shops etc
• Share your plans with your NICMA Childminding Development Officer who will
support and coordinate local events and liaise with the local press for publicity
purposes
• Take photographs of your local events if a press photographer is unavailable
• Childminding Support Groups should nominate someone as the media contact
person for follow up interviews
This person should be:-
• A NICMA member
• A willing recruit
• A confident speaker
• Have sufficient written materials to hand to be able to answer questions relevant to
promoting quality childminding services.
Contact your local Childminding Development Officer who will offer guidance and provide
a pack of promotional items and resources to support and promote your event.
Rhymetime sessions in your Local Library
This year NICMA have also linked up with Booktrust to offer a number of Rhymetime
sessions within local libraries across Northern Ireland during NICMA Week.
Bookstart Rhymetime sessions are activities designed to encourage parents and carers to
share rhymes and songs with babies from birth onwards. They are organised locally and
take place in your local library. Sessions incorporate a mix of songs, rhymes, rhythm and
movement, and provide the opportunity to share games, novelty books and toys.
Are you interested in attending a Rhymetime session in your local library during
NICMA week?
To register your interest just complete and return the enclosed expression of interest slips
to: -Jenny Adair, Assistant Director, NICMA - the Childminding Association,
16-18 Mill Street, Newtownards, BT23 4LU
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On receipt of this expression of interest your local NICMA Childminding Development
Officer will contact the local library to organise the event and will then contact the group
chairperson to confirm dates and times etc .
Bookstart is a national programme that provides young children
and their families with free packs of books and tips and ideas for
parents and carers on how to enjoy sharing books together. This
initiative is coordinated by Booktrust, an independent national
charity with the aim of bringing books and people together and
fostering a love of reading amongst people of all cultures, abilities
and ages. Bookstart is an excellent example of an integrated programme supporting better
outcomes for children.
In Northern Ireland the Department of Education provides funding for every child to receive
a Bookstart Bag in their first year and Bookstart Treasure Chest in their pre-school year.
There is currently no funding for Bookstart plus, the Toddler pack, although some Sure
Start projects provide this from their own budget.
The Bookstart Pack for Babies
My Bookstart Treasure Chest
The Bookstart Plus Pack
The Library services in Northern Ireland coordinate the delivery of Bookstart Packs and
work in partnership with Health visitors, Pre-school settings and voluntary organisations to
ensure that the high value message, as well as the packs, is delivered to parents.
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Every child in Northern Ireland is entitled to the gift of a Bookstart baby bag and a
Treasure Chest. Bookstart packs are available at local libraries for those families that have
not received them.
Additional resources
Bookstart recognises that children have different needs and provide Booktouch packs for
blind children and Bookshine packs for deaf children. Dual Language packs are also
available in 26 community languages.
Finding books to suit different needs is a booklet which will help you to find different
types of books that might be relevant to a child’s specific needs.
Finding inclusive books is a booklet about books which include disabled characters as
well as titles which may be useful for talking about disability and diversity.
Bookstart and Childminders
Childminders are ideally placed to share and enjoy the books and stories with the children
in their care. In each pack is an invitation to join the library and many childminders build in
a weekly visit to the library to choose new books to share with the children in their setting.
Children delight in using the canvas Bookstart bags as their special library bags and to
collect stickers as part of the Bookstart Bookcrawl scheme. Childminders and their children
are also very welcome to attend Bookstart Rhyme time and Story time sessions which are
run on a regular basis at many local libraries across Northern Ireland. Please contact your
local library for details.
If you have any questions or queries, please visit the Bookstart website for more details of
all the packs, and lots more advice and information.
www.bookstart.co.uk or contact your local Bookstart Coordinator:
Kim Aiken, NEELB
Pat Jordan, BELB
Tel: 02890 485079 Tel: 02890 509234
kim.aiken@ni‐libraries.net
patricia.jordan@ni‐libraries.net
Lorraine Dunn, SEELB
Maurice McDonagh, SELB
Tel: 02891 270591 Tel: 028 3752 0777
lorraine.dunn@ni‐libraries.net
maurice.mcdonagh@ni‐libraries.net
Mary Jo Curran, WELB
Tel: 02882 244821
maryjo.curran@ni‐libraries.net
Liz Canning, National Development Manager, Northern Ireland
T: 07827 345 085 E: liz.canning@booktrust.org.uk
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SHARON IS COW & GATE “CHILDMINDER OF THE YEAR”
Sharon Mornin from Ballymoney won the Cow & Gate Childminder of the Year 2008 Award
at the finals in Malone House.
Sharon was nominated by three parents whose
children are in her care; Paula McKeever, Donna
Connor and Sabrina and Bryan Moore, also from
Ballymoney. All these parents believe Sharon
provides a fun and loving atmosphere and a warm
and inviting home for their children, a view which
was confirmed by the Award judges – Gerry
Conway a Children’s Services Planner in Foyle
Health Trust and rugby star Clinton Shifcofske.
Paula said “Sommer and Sienna are constantly
stimulated with lots of different activities to
participate in, they are very well looked after and fed
good honest home-made food. Seeing them smile and hug Sharon when they see her
makes us as parents feel reassured.”
Donna said “I can go to work knowing that my child is being well looked after in a place
with people whom she loves”.
Sabrina said “Sharon provides a home away from home and truly deservded the title of
Cow & Gate Childminder of the Year”.
The five runners up were Teresa O’Reilly from Enniskillen, Linda Foster from Armagh,
Sandra Wilson from Strabane, Angela Manning from belfast and Ethna McCluskey from
Bangor who each received an engraved Tyrone crystal runner-up trophy and a cheque for
£50.00. Congratulations to all the runners up.
INEXPENSIVE PLAY IDEAS
To help escape the credit crunch, there are alternative play opportunities that you can offer
your children that will not break the bank and will give them much enjoyment and
satisfaction. Children need play opportunities that encourage them to use their
imagination.
Please refer to the enclosed booklet ‘INEXPENSIVE PLAY IDEAS FOR CHILDREN’
which gives examples of great inexpensive activities which will provide hours of fun for you
and your children. When carrying out the activities try to resist the temptation to intervene
or lead what your children are doing. Let them take the lead they will enjoy the experience
so much more and it will help them develop their own creativity, team-building and
problem-solving skills. If your Group would like additional ideas have a look at the NICMA
website arts and crafts section www.nicma.org. Catherine would welcome your input to
support the development of this section of the website email catherine.trimble@nicma.org
with your suggestions.
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Congratulations from NICMA
Congratulations from NICMA to Wilma McVeigh, Registered Childminder and NICMA
member form Ballygowan. Wilma has won the NI Regional final of Netmums Mum of the
Year Award which recognises and celebrates the great stuff mums do in our communities.
She is now through to the National final and is one of the last 12 out of an incredible 1,100
entries across the UK!
As well as being a Mum to Adam (10), and Childminding for up to 9 children per week
(aged 9 months to 11 years) Wilma helps out at her local parent and toddler group, is
leader-in-charge of 25 lively 3 - 5 year old boys at the local Boys Brigade company and is
involved in helping to fundraise for Natasha a little girl who is receiving life saving
treatment in America.
Wilma however has not let this huge achievement go to her head “I just want to continue
on with what I am doing - firstly being a wife and mummy, then childminder to all my "wee
dotes" and then everything else just falls in around it"
Wilma has been a very active volunteer with NICMA for the past 6 years. She has played a
key role in the following NICMA initiatives: -
• Grundvig European Partnership Projects
• Media and Publicity campaign to raise awareness of the value of high quality home
based Childcare
• Member of our Executive Committee
• Children’s Learning & Development Project
• Current member of the Childminding Advisory Group
So why not vote for Wilma – visit www.netmums.com and click on their Mums of the
Year icon.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NICMA CHILDMINDING SUPPORT
GROUPS AT A LOCAL LEVEL?
Congratulations to Ballynahinch Childminding Support Group who have sold 780
copies of their “Childminders Cook Book”. The book contains a wide range of recipes,
including soups, savouries, breads, tray bakes, cakes, desserts and smoothies. It also
contains a selection of recipes for children. Sales have so far raised an amazing
£2,100.00 beating the group’s original target of £2,000.00. A number of copies have been
sent as Christmas presents all over the world. The book costs £5.00 and all profits will go
to the group’s chosen charity for this year – Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy. If you like to
support this charity by buying a copy of the book please contact Sally Duffield on
97561579.
Foyle Childminding Support Group Childminders held their Christmas Party on the 11 th
of December 2008 in the Evrington Centre Derry the party was well attended by
Childminders and the children had a great time. With bubble machines, dancing, nursery
rhymes and songs the only time the children sat down was to dive into their Christmas
snack. The Support Group meet in the MDEC Centre Altnagelvin Hospital at 7.30pm all
new members are welcome. Contact Clare Hagan on 07842871840 or Marella Morrison
on 02871341244 to find out what’s happening within the annual programme of events.
Everyone welcome!
The Enniskillen Childminding Support group meet in the Family Centre, Coleshill, at
8.00pm on the 1 st Thursday of each month. All registered childminders in the area are very
welcome to attend. At the meeting on 4 March 2009, members will be given a
demonstration on how to make cards. All childminders in the area are welcome to
attend. This is an excellent opportunity to learn a new skill. Childminders can then use this
new found talent to extend the play and learning opportunities to your children.
Contact Maria Moss, NICMA Childminding Development Officer on 07855392147 or
Mary Ledwith, Group Chairperson on 6632 7928 for further information on the group
programme for the in coming year.
An ‘Introduction to Home-based Childcare’ Course was held in the Aisling Centre
Enniskillen from Wednesday 14th of January 2009 - Saturday 24th of January 2009.
Eleven participants completed the course and were in various stages of the registration
process. One childminder who has been registered for 5 years said “Brilliant course, even
after being registered for 5 years”. Another participant stated “This course has been an
excellent learning curve for me. I am more confident and excited about starting my new
business and will recommend this course to others”.
All eleven participants have completed the relevant course work book, received NICMA
certificates and are hoping to get CACHE endorsement for completing the course.
‘WEE FOLK’ Omagh Childminding Drop-in-Centre meets every Friday morning from
10.00am – 12 noon in the Omagh Early Years Centre.
The Drop-in facility gives childminders the opportunity to get together, discuss
childminding issues and socialise. It also gives the children the chance to mix with other
children their own age, play with toys and get involved with a range of activities which may
not always be available in the childminders home; i.e. sand, water, painting, ‘messy play’
etc….
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An Information / Training Evening is being held on Monday 23 February 2009 in
Gortmore Day Centre, Old Derry Road, Omagh at 8.00pm for all registered
childminders, or anyone going through the registration process in the Omagh area.
Information will be available on the Drop-in-Centre, Childminding Support Group and
NICMA. The evening will conclude with a Play Development Workshop. For further
information, please contact Maria Moss, NICMA Childminding Development Officer
on 07855392147.
‘SNACC’ – Causeway Childminding Support Group had a very enjoyable and
informative evening courtesy of Leone Hill – Health Promotion Officer from Community
Dental Services. Daphne Moore, SNACC Chairperson, contacted Leone and invited her
along to the group meeting in November. The topic for the evening was Oral Health and
many childminders were shocked and surprised at the damage some foods can do to teeth
and gums, particularly those items labelled ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’. The
childminders were given some free stickers and leaflets for parents and children to
increase awareness in the importance of oral hygiene and how a healthy diet is essential
for everyone’s oral health.
Ballymena Childminding Group recently welcomed guest speaker Maeve Girvan from
Asthma UK to their monthly meeting. The meeting was open to childminders and parents
of minded children. The information session, called Alert to Asthma, aims to equip early
years carers with the knowledge of what to do in case a child in their care has an asthma
attack. Maeve answered many questions on ‘triggers’ for asthma sufferers, correct use of
inhalers, how to manage an asthma attacks and gave advice to the childminders for young
adults as well as children. Maeve also brought along a display of all different types of childfriendly
inhalers for babies, for toddlers and for older children. If you or your local
childminding group would like more information about the Alert to Asthma programme,
check out their web site; www.asthma.org.uk and follow the links to Northern Ireland.
Alternatively contact staff by telephone on 02890 669736.
Magherafelt Childminding support group is now up and running and have already
provided a number of cluster sessions to support the local Childminders in Magherafelt.
The group have recently produced an information sheet linked to organising play activities
for the children and have also had a speaker from “Asthma awareness UK.”
A number of members have recently had their yearly inspections and we would like to
congratulate those who have received positive inspection reports. Attending the group has
given members the opportunity to share experiences and ideas for activity planning which
has contributed to providing the children with a high standard of care.
The group are looking forward to becoming constituted in the coming months and would
invite anyone interested in becoming chair, treasurer or secretary to put their name
forward. This can be an exciting role offering members the opportunity to increase their
knowledge and personal development. Once constituted, the group will be able to apply
for further funding and access a range of other development opportunities. We want to see
the group grow and support as many local Childminders in the area as possible, so if
you’re interested in joining please come along and reap the benefits.
Congratulations to childminders who attend the support group in the Ards Penninsula
and Colin Glen area who have recently adopted the NICMA constitution. We look
forward to hearing about your future development plans within the next issue of the Group
Newsletter
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Bangor Childminding Support Group has had a busy and productive year so far,
securing £500.00 from North Down Borough Council which will be used for Committee
Management Training. Other events for the year include guest speakers, fundraising for
Fresh Hope, and outings. Twelve childminders from the Bangor Group also received Top
Activity resources, having recently completed Top Tots Activity Training provided by
NICMA. Funding was secured through the Fit Futures initiative.
Crumlin Support Goup organised a wonderful Christmas party in December for Children
in the local community. Children from local schools, Mother and Tots and of course those
cared for by the local Childminders enjoyed a visit from Father Christmas, along with lots
of fun and games such as face painting, arts and crafts and a yummy tea party.
It’s not just been fun and games for the group however as the attendees have worked very
hard, along with our fundraiser – Madeline, to secure funding for a new toy and equipment
library. The group were awarded 500 euro and are currently in consultation as to what
resources they will benefit from most at present.
TRAINING UPDATE
Top Activity Training for Childminders
NICMA have secured a total of £3,900.00 for Top Activity training for Childminders in the
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area through the Fit Futures initiative. This
training is being delivered to members of the Childminding Support Groups in
Newtownards, Downpatrick and Lisburn. Rosemary Black, Training & Quality Development
Officer with NICMA – the Childminding Association will deliver the training.
Introduction to Homebased Childcare Course
Congratulations to our latest group of trainees who have just completed their “Introduction
to home based Childcare” course in the Carrickfergus area. It was great to see such a
large group of new Childminders and we
hope that this course will give them the
basis they need for beginning their new
career in Childminding.
During the course Childminders were
provided with training on registration,
policies and procedures on safeguarding
Children and supporting Children’s
learning and development.
Recently a group of 19 delegates attended
‘Introduction to Home-based Childcare’ course in
the Sandel Centre, Coleraine. This 12 hour course
has been designed by NICMA to assist those
adults who are considering becoming a
childminder or home-childcarer. Topics covered
included the registration process, Health& Safety,
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Child Protection Policies & Procedures, the Business side of Childminding, Child
Development and managing Child behaviour. Most of the delegates were already in the
registration process to become a childminder and two were considering becoming a homechildcarer.
The course was delivered by Maeve Milne, NICMA Training Co-ordinator. The final training
session was also attended by Clare McKay the NICMA Childminding Development Officer.
Claire explained that she was available to offer support and guidance as the delegates
progressed through the registration process and in the future as they developed their
childminding business.
Kilkeel Childminders successfully complete a Food Hygiene Certificate.
Twelve members of the Kilkeel Childminding Support Group recently completed their
‘Food Hygiene’ Certificate through the London College Awarding Body.
From January 2007 it became a legal requirement for registered childminders to register
as a food business with their local Council. All of childminders therefore have completed
the food registration forms and returned them to their Environmental Health Service
Department. Beverly Wilson Food Safety Tutor agreed to deliver the training. Funding was
provided by the Southern Childcare Partnership Early years Development Fund.
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SPRING ACTIVITIES
Action Rhyme:-
Pitter Patter rain drops (wiggle fingers to
imitate rain)
Falling from the sky (wiggle fingers
downward)
Here’s my umbrella (Action of opening
umbrella)
Hold it up high (hands over head)
When the rain is over (bring hands down
slowly)
And the sun begins to glow (make sun
with arms)
Little flowers start to bud (kneel down)
Then grow, grow, grow (slowly stand up)
Ideas for Valentine’s Day Activities
• Decorate heart shapes with paint,
glitter, pencils or crayons.
Laminate and or cover in sticky
backed plastic and use to decorate
a tree in the garden.
• If you’re making cards with the
children to send home, why not
have an outing to the post office
and post the cards instead?
Children will enjoy the experience
of buying stamps and posting their
letters, as well as waiting for the
postman to arrive.
Ideas for St David’s Day
1 st March 2009
• Go for a walk to look for daffodils
in gardens
• Make Leek and potato soup with
the children
• Dye a daffodil: Food colouring
mixed with the water in a vase of
daffodils will be taken up by the
flowers and dye them. Dark dyes
work best for this.
Ideas for St Patrick’s Day
17 th March 2009
• Buy a pot of shamrock and count
the leaves
• Paint a rainbow and talk about
colours
• Make leprechaun footprints –
make a fist and dip the side of your
hand (little finger side) into green
paint. Make a print on card for the
leprechaun’s footprint, and use a
fingertip dipped in paint for the
toes
Simple Thumb Print Snowdrops
Mix white paint with salt or sand and
make 3 thumbprints for the flower petals.
Draw or paint in stems and leaves
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