Childminders Advisory Service H.S.E.

The Childminders Advisory Service was set up in the south Western Area Health Board in Autumn 2002. The aim of the service is to provide a support system for Childminders who cater for three or less pre-school children in their own home. Childminders in this category are exempt from the Child Care (Pre-School Services Regulations) 1996 and heretofore had no statutory support or input.

• Provide information on and facilitate access to training for Childminders/Prospective Childminders
• Prepare information literature
• Facilitate the establishment of local childminding networks
• Provide Advisory visits, on request, to Childminders Homes to assist the development of best practice
• Act as a referral point for Parents

Most of the actions undertaken by the Advisory Service are funded by the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform under the National Childminding Initiative Scheme of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 This initiative is being administered under two strands comprised of:

• Information, Networking and Training Actions
• Childminder Development grants.

Information,training and net-working are on-going and the Childminder Development grants is being administered by the Kildare County Childcare Committee in conjunction with the Childminders Advisory Service.

Further information on the work of the Advisory Service and the support available for Childminders and Parents can be had from

Bridie Clancy
Childminders' Advisor
Poplar House
Poplar Square
Naas
Co. Kildare.
Phone: 045 907851
E-mail bridie.clancy@mailm.hse.ie