Information for Childminders
Childminding - Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Professional Childminder
Clare County Childcare Committee has recently published a childminding support pack,”Childminding - Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Professional Childminder”
The pack was originally developed in collaboration with Cork, Kerry, South Tipperary and Waterford Childcare Committees. The newly published Step by Step Guide is an invaluable tool for all childminders who care for children in their own home, assisting childminders to plan and organise their childminding service. For childminders caring for 3 or less children, it will enable them to meet the requirements to voluntary notify their childminding service to the Clare County Childcare Committee. The guide also provides information on how to become a notified childminder with the Health Service Executive – a childminder who is caring for 4 but not more than 5 children in their family home. This pack provides detailed and practical information and easy to follow guidelines to becoming a Childminder and covers areas such as tax relief, appropriate policies and procedures, health and safety awareness, insurance, Garda vetting, notification, a flexible daily routine, training etc.
For further information on the pack please contact Debbie O’ Donovan, Childminding Advisory Officer on 065 6864862, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings.
National Guidelines for Childminders were launched in 2006 by the Office of the Minister for Children and are available to download from the Office of the Minister for Children's Website, please click here to view.
The Quality Awareness Programme for Childminders
This is a short, 10 hour training course covering topics relating to Childminding. The framework used for the delivery of the Quality Awareness Programme is based on the following five modules:
Module 1: Why Choose Childminding?
Module 2: Child Development – an overview
Module 3: Hygiene, Health and Safety
Module 4: Well-being of Children
Module 5: Play
While the Quality Awareness Programme is open to all Childminders, it is also a requirement for applicants for the Childminder Development Grant of €1000. The course is free of charge and will be facilitated on an ongoing basis throughout 2010; places are limited to 15 participants.
The Childminding Development Grant - National Childcare Investment Programme
A new capital grant scheme has been introduced for childminders by the Office of the Minister for Children under the National Investment Programme 2006- 2010.
Childminders can now avail of maximum grant of €1000 provided they meet the outlined criteria.
What do I have to do to be eligible for the grant?
1- You should be minding or planning to mind a minimum of two children. At least one child should be on a full time basis, (i.e. 3 ½ hours or more) and one child on a part time basis (less than 3 ½ hours). You may also apply for the grant in preparation of starting your new service.
2- You must complete the Quality Awareness Programme.
3- You must have up to date and accurate insurance cover for your childminding service.
4- For those childminders caring for 4 or more preschool children you are required to notify the HSE of your service and for those Childminders caring for 3 children or less you have the option of voluntary notifying your service to Clare County Childcare Committee.
5- In order to avail of the maximum grant of €1000, you will also be required to give a commitment to continue your childminding service for 2 years. If you cannot give this commitment you can commit for 1 year and receive €500.
What can I use the grant for?
The childminding development grant should be used to improve the safety and quality of the childminding service by allowing the childminder to purchase toys or equipment or do minor adaptations to the childminder’s home.
Safety Items- e.g. fire blanket, extinguisher, smoke alarm, socket covers, cupboard locks, first aid kit, fireguard, stair gate, baby monitors or car seats.
Childcare equipment – e.g. changing table, mat, sterilizer, buggy, cot, child sized table and chairs that are of good safety standard, booster seat, step up stools, potty, nappy bin, storage equipment etc.
Play equipment – indoor and outdoors – swing, slide, climbing frame, sand box, ride on toys, role-play equipment (kitchen sets, pretend food, train set), wooden puzzles etc.
Minor Adaptations – e.g. Outdoor fencing or changes to sanitary or play room area etc.
The childminding development grant will cover 90% of the cost of items approved.
What do I do next?
1- Apply for the Quality Awareness programme.
2- Decide on how €1000 could best improve your childminding service. The Clare County Childcare Committee has a pre-paid option with a company called Haboo based in Co. Limerick. The childminder can choose materials from the Haboo catalogue, the company will then deliver to your door and assemble if necessary any larger pieces of equipment. Haboo will then invoice the Clare County Childcare Committee for the €1000 while the childminder pays €100 on receipt of the materials. Alternatively, you may decide to use another toy stockist/supplier.
3- No purchase should be made until Clare County Childcare Committee has approved your application. Items already purchased cannot be considered for the grant.
4- Complete the application form and send it with your choice of pre-paid equipment or with quotations/catalogue prices and evidence of insurance to CCCC.
5- Your application will go before an appraisal committee and if approved you will receive a letter of agreement, which you should sign, and return to CCCC.
6- You may proceed with arranging delivery of your materials or if you choose to go with another supplier you will need to forward the original itemised receipts to CCCC and the grant cheque will then be issued to you.
7- You will receive a check visit from the Childminder Advisory Officer from CCCC or from Pobal with advance notice given.
Who is not eligible to apply for the Grant?
Childminders who do not care for at least two children cannot apply for the grant. Also, childminders caring for children in the children’s own homes are not eligible to apply.
Can I get more than one grant?
If you receive a maximum of €1000 you can reapply for the grant after 2 years from the date of receipt of the grant cheque.
What is the closing date for receipt of application forms?
The grant will be available until December 2010. There is no closing date and applications are now being processed.
For further information on the Quality Awareness Programme or for an application form for the Grant please contact:
Debbie O’Donovan - Childminding Advisory Officer
Clare County Childcare Committee
1 Kilrush Road
Ennis
Co. Clare.
E-mail - debbie.odonovan@clarechildcare.ie
Tax Relief for Childminders
To qualify for the Childminders' tax relief, you need to meet the following criteria:
- The exemption applies only if the total income in a tax year does not exceed €15,000.
- No deductions of any kind are allowed.
- You must be childminding no more than 3 children at any one time in your own home.
- The exemption must be claimed in an annual tax return, accompanied by evidence of notification.
- A separate notification must be made in respect of each tax year for which the exemption is claimed.
- A claim for relief under this section does not affect mortgage interest relief nor capital gains tax relief if you sell your house.
- This income will not affect your entitlement to home carer tax relief.
Even if you are a PAYE worker elsewhere part-time, (for example, mornings in Tesco), you can still claim the Childminding tax relief for minding children after school.
Garda Vetting for Childminders
Childminders can contact Barnardos to receive an information pack on Garda Vetting. This will also automatically register them with the organisation. Please see contact details below.
Barnardos:
(01) 4530355
