Different Types of Childcare
Becoming a Registered Childminder
Registered childminders are self-employed carers who look after children in their own homes. They must be registered with the local Health and Social Care Trust if they are paid to look after children they are not closely related to for more than two hours in the day.
Childminding as a profession can offer you an opportunity to:
All prospective Childminders are required to:
Childminding is not just about looking after children – you will also need to have or be prepared to develop skills in working with adults too.
The following link will provide you with some additional information: Childminding as a profession
NICMA in association with the HSC Trust Early Years Teams and the Childcare Partnerships have produced a Guide to Becoming a Registered Childminder which can be accessed using the following link : Childminding Registration Guidance
What is a Playworker?
Playworkers work within school aged childcare settings also referred to as an afterschool group. They work to plan and organise play activities to suit the needs and interests of the children in their care. Playworkers are not just responsible for maintaining a safe and engaging play environment, they also aim to use play to help support children's development. They plan activities to support emotional and social development with play, as well as supporting other specific goals in the setting.
Why is Playwork important?
There are many Play Theories for Early Years and Beyond which help us understand the hugely important role that play has in children's development. It helps them with social and emotional skills, as well as supporting cognitive development. Through play, children can practise skills like problem-solving and exercise their imaginations. These mental practices strengthen brain development, building strong pathways and associations that help children far into adulthood.
Play facilitates learning skills and ideas which are key, and it all happens while having fun and building a positive association with learning. Children can use roleplay to explore stories they are reading or real-life situations which seem scary in a safe space. Play with certain objects or aims can be used in all kinds of subjects, from maths to history to science and more. Not to mention the physical benefits of play, as running around supports activity and gross motor development and manipulating smaller objects improves fine motor skills too.
Having a dedicated Playworker is a wonderful way to make the most of all the benefits that play can bring. They have a dedicated and specific knowledge not just of play activities and how to make the most of them, but they also have an in-depth understanding of each child. This makes sure that each child is given the chance to receive the care and attention they need to help them be their best while they have a lot of fun. Having more adult roles in settings and spaces with dedicated roles like playworkers lets other practitioners and teachers take time to do work like planning lessons and marking work. Children still get the time and attention they need, while sharing the roles and workload to let all members of staff be their best.
What is it like to work in a Day Care Nursery?
Day nurseries care for children 0-12 years including babies, toddlers, preschool and afterschool aged children.
A typical day will vary depending on where you are working but might include:
Each child attending the nursery will have a "key person". The role of the key person is to help ensure that every child’s learning and care is tailored to meet their individual needs. They will be the first point of contact for the child's parents.
Working in the Pre-school Sector
Pre-school education settings which currently provide funded places under the Pre- School Education Programme include statutory grant-aided nursery schools, nursery units or classes in Primary Schools; non-statutory playgroups registered with the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts; and non-statutory day nurseries and day care providers registered with the HSC Trusts.
Non-statutory providers wishing to participate in the Programme are required to meet specified quality standards and be open to inspection by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI).
Each provider must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient, appropriately qualified staff to deliver high quality pre-school education in line with the curricular guidance to the agreed number of children.
All funded non-statutory providers are required to adhere to the standards set out in the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children under Age 12, including a minimum staff ratio of 1 adult to 8 children.
Job roles include a leader/manager qualified to Level 5 or above i.e. Degree Level, supported by a number of childcare assistants at Levels 2 or 3. Each setting also needs to have access to an early years specialist to raise standards and help prepare children for school.
Nursery schools and classes are already required to employ a qualified teacher for each class. Other providers (i.e. non-statutory settings in the voluntary and private sector) are required to arrange support from a qualified teacher or other suitably qualified early years specialist.
What is a Crèche ?
In a crèche, young children, normally under-fives, are cared for by childcare staff during the day while their parents or carers do something else on the same premises. They might be working, shopping or attending training courses or parenting programmes etc.
Crèches which care for children for more than two hours a day are registered and regularly inspected by the Early Years Team in your local Health and Social Care Trust. The opening hours of the crèche may be flexible to suit parents and carers.