Executive urged to tackle childminder shortage

NI Childminding Association Small Logo

The childminders’ organisation, NICMA, is calling on Executive ministers to take urgent action to tackle an acute shortage of childminders in many parts of Northern Ireland.

NICMA – the Childminding Association is urging the Executive to introduce a package of financial and practical support for new childminders, to help attract new recruits and to prevent childminders leaving the profession.

Bridget Nodder, NICMA's Director warned

"Some parts of Northern Ireland quite literally have either no childminder vacancies, or just a handful.

"That’s really bad news for parents who depend on being able to find good quality, affordable childcare in order to take up or stay in employment.

"Our proposed package of measures would make childminding a less daunting and more attractive option for many individuals."

NICMA's package

About NICMA

NICMA – the Childminding Association is the sole organisation representing childminders in Northern Ireland.

74% of registered childminders here are members.

NICMA’s proposed Childminder Start-Up Package includes:

  • Childminder Start-Up Grants similar to grants already available in the Republic of Ireland, and in England and Wales
  • One-to-one mentoring support for childminders during the initial registration process and their first year in business

Impact of start-up costs

Bridget Nodder says many individuals are also put off by the start-up costs involved in becoming a childminder.

"Obviously, unless you have young children of your own, you do have to go out and buy safety and play equipment, and every childminder needs to have insurance.

"A Start-Up Grant which assisted with some of those initial costs would make a big difference for many prospective childminders."

A childminder's view

One prospective childminder who would benefit greatly from such support is Suzanne Devonport, a mother-of-three who lives in Newtownards.

She’s currently undergoing training to become a childminder, but says she’s still daunted by the prospect of setting up in business and isn’t 100% sure whether or not she’ll go ahead.

"I really love the idea of spending the day looking after children, but I do realise it’s a challenging job.

"Suddenly you’re responsible for the welfare of other people’s children, you’ve got all the business administration to sort out, and the buck really does stop with you.

"I’d certainly be much more confident about going into childminding if one-to-onementoring support was available for the first year."

Role of childminding in Northern Ireland

Childminding in other countries

In the Republic of Ireland, Childminder Development grants of up to €630 are available both for prospective childminders as set-up grants, and for existing childminders who wish to improve the quality of their service

In England, Sure Start funds Childminder Start Up Grants which are available through local authorities, while the Welsh Assembly also provides start up grants

Registered childminding is by far the most popular – and affordable – form of full-time daycare in Northern Ireland. It accounts for:

  • 76% of full-time daycare places, and
  • 44% of all childcare places here.

A study commissioned by the Department for Employment and Learning concluded:

  • there was a significant shortfall in childcare places in Northern Ireland, and
  • a 20% expansion in the number of childminders was needed to meet the demand for places.

NICMA believes that its proposal would make a substantial contribution towards achieving growth on that scale.

You can download NICMA's briefing paper as a 390kb PDF PDF.


NI Childminding Association | Valerie Earney | 03 Jul 2007
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