Top accolade for childminder

Jennifer O’Connor has just been awarded the ‘Quality First’ accreditation by NICMA – the Childminding Association.

Just 120 childminders in Northern Ireland hold this prestigious award which covers all aspects of childminding - from promoting children’s learning and development to providing good nutrition.

Jennifer is one of four members of the Splash Sure Start/NICMA childminding network in Lurgan who now hold this prestigious award.

It took her nine months and many hours of study to complete the Quality First programme, but Jennifer said the hard work was well worthwhile.

“I think there’s an assumption that childminders don’t have any qualifications and that a nursery is more professional when it comes to caring for your child,” she explained.

“I wanted to demonstrate to parents that childminders actually do work very hard for their money, and that we do make a really important contribution to a child’s development.”

Jennifer was assessed for the award by Geralyn Maguire, who co-ordinates the Splash Sure Start/NICMA childminding network.

“Jennifer certainly deserved her award,” said Geralyn. “She provides a warm, caring environment for her children, and offers a quality service.”

Jennifer said the children she looks after have really benefited from her membership of the network.

“Before I got involved with the network, I would have been inclined to mostly stay at home doing things with the kids,” she said.

“But now I get out with them as much as possible, and the younger children really benefit from socialising with the other kids at the network meetings.”

The network holds two very informal weekly ‘drop-ins’, in different locations, for childminders and children to get together with each other. Non-members and parents are also very welcome at the meetings.

“The children and childminders obviously get a great deal out of socialising with each other,” said Geralyn. “But the parents who come along also benefit from meeting the childminders.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to find out more about childminding both as a potential childcare option and as a possible career.

If you would like more information on childminding as a career or on choosing a childminder, go to: www.nicma.org or contact NICMA on 9181 1015. For more information on the Splash Sure Start/NICMA childminding network, contact Geralyn Maguire on 3831 3365.