Covid-19 Childminder Mentor Programme
Claire Fitzgerald - Area Lead (HEART - Midlands Stronger Practice Hub), DfE Mentor Programme
The Covid-19 Recovery Programme is a response to the ongoing global pandemic created by the coronavirus. The virus has caused worldwide disruption to the economy, health, and education.
The Childminder Mentor programme’s focus is to support childminders to narrow the gap for disadvantaged children in the care of childminders. The pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on family life and has increased the need for support for these families.
The Covid-19 Childminder Mentor Programme responds to this need by focusing on improving the quality of provision and enabling childminders to support the children and families in their care. Using a peer-on-peer support model, the Department for Education (DfE) hopes to develop a model of sharing best practice.
The DfE has recruited around 400 Area Leads and Mentors that will be allocated to childminders nationally who are looking for support. These sessions will mainly be delivered virtually and consist of four days’ worth of support for a whole term.
The programme’s main aims are:
Identify strengths and areas for development
Improve your confidence in, or knowledge of, child development
Implement the early years foundation stage framework (EYFS)
Plan an effective curriculum
Support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Support children with English as an additional language (EAL)
Build strong relationships with parents and carers.
Area Leads and Mentors have received specialist mentoring training to enable them to share ideas, practice, and tips to support childminders who are seeking to improve their own CPD. The DfE are then hoping in turn the up-skill of childminders will support the development of the children in their care.
As a DfE Area Lead working on the programme myself I have found working alongside other childminders from other parts of the country invaluable. This programme offers the opportunity to share ideas from other local authorities and I have found this fascinating how other areas of the country work.
Networking is also a crucial part of childminding as lone working can be extremely isolating. The programme will also be working to improve the quality of these networks that childminders are accessing.
As an Area Lead, I hope the techniques shared within all our mentoring sessions will allow childminders to feel empowered to grow and develop their own networks either as part of their mentor’s cluster or with the confidence to create their own.
How to request support from your own Mentor
To be eligible for the Childminder Mentor Programme, childminders must currently provide childcare to at least one child aged between 0-5.
You can apply for support as an individual or with other childminders as part of a small group (of up to 4 people). If you apply as an individual, you’ll be placed in a group with others.
To apply for support from the programme, simply complete the application form here.
Your application will be sent to Hempsall’s, the official DfE delivery partner for the Covid-19 Childminder Mentor Programme. Hempsall’s may notify your local authority that you have applied for the programme and, with your permission, share the information you have provided with them.
Your data is protected under the DfE privacy notice for the programme.
About the author: Claire Fitzgerald
Areas of Expertise: Childminding
Claire Fitzgerald’s commitment to outstanding outcomes for younger people began in 2005, when she completed her level 2 in early years.
Since then, Claire has delivered early years care in a number of roles, gaining valuable experience as a nursery practitioner. Claire was swiftly promoted to deputy nursery manager in early 2008. Later that year, Claire set up her own childminding business, which she ran successfully since 2008 recently becoming ‘Outstanding’ across all areas of her provision.
To further develop her understanding of the theory of childcare and education, Claire then undertook a teacher training course. During the full-time, heavily placement-based course, Claire spent much of her time helping children with special educational needs, giving her a deep understanding of the safeguarding requirements of vulnerable children.
Claire then became a training officer at an ‘Outstanding’ rated training provider and has since worked in other training officer roles helping to provide apprenticeships for teaching assistants, continuing with her passion of helping those with special educational needs. Claire also trains early years practitioners on a freelance basis and is also a governor.
Claire has just gained the position of Area Lead (HEART - Midlands Stronger Practice Hub) for Childminders on the new Covid -19 Childminder Mentor Programme and is working hard to share best practice for other childminders to enable better outcomes for children across the city.