Criteria for A2C Childminders
A2C offers a great opportunity to expand your service and enhance the future sustainability of your childminding business by introducing new families to your setting, some of whom may not have been considered, or been able to, use a childminder before.
The expansion of the criteria for families may also mean that you currently have families using your service who will now quality for the A2C Service.
To be considered for the project, childminders must meet the following criteria:
- Be registered and active as a childminder with the Care Inspectorate.
- Have achieved a minimum of Grade 4 for all areas at your last inspection, with no significant concerns highlighted within your last inspection report.
- Have Public Liability Insurance in place and ensure that there is adequate cover.
- Hold a current Baby and Child or Paediatric First Aid Training Certificate (within the last three years); or evidence of professional reading or an online course will be sufficient, until you are able to take a practical course.
- Hold a REHIS (or equivalent) approved Elementary Food Hygiene certificate and adhere to Safer Food, Better Business, if food is to be provided as part of the service.
- Have undertaken the SCMA Child Protection in a Childminding Setting training (available online) and be aware of local authority safeguarding procedures. Proof that you have completed a local authority child protection course would also be accepted.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a pilot scheme and there are only a limited number of funded placements available, so meeting the criteria will not lead to childminders automatically getting children placed.
Family Referrals
The eligibility criteria for the A2C Service addresses the priority groups within 'Every Child, Every Chance' and includes:
- Lone parents
- Families which include a child with Additional Support Needs
- Larger families (three or more children)
- Minority ethnic families
- Families where the mother or main carer is under 25 years of age
A2C is being promoted with both third sector and statutory partners to ensure suitable referrals are targeted and received. In addition, the A2C project is targeted towards those organisations funded by the Parental Employability Support Fund.
The A2C Service is now OPEN to referrals - access the A2C Referral Form HERE.
For enquiries, please email a2c@childminding.org to contact the A2C team.