Work Matters: Careers - Registered childminder - Where do I go from here?

Name: Byrony Telford

Age: 40

Current role: Childminder

Qualifications: CACHE level 3 in Childminding Practice; currently studying for an early years foundation degree

EXPERIENCE

Following the birth of my daughter in 2002 I left my job as a credit manager, a role that I was unable to return to on a part-time basis. When my daughter was nine months old I registered as a childminder.

I took my first childcare qualification, CACHE Introducing Childminding Practice in 2003 and subsequently completed a range of courses at evening classes. In 2005 I passed the CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childminding Practice.

I am a certified first aid 'appointed person' and hold a record of training in Promoting Acceptable Behaviour in Young Children. In March 2006 I passed the NSPCC Child Protection Awareness Programme and I am currently working toward the foundation degree in Early Years via the Open University.

In October 2006 Ofsted awarded me the grade of outstanding in all areas of my work, something I am incredibly proud of.

WHAT I DO

I currently have seven children on my books, ages ranging from nine months to a seven-year-old who I care for in the school holidays.

A typical day's work can start at 7am when a three-year-old is dropped off. At 8am one or both of the babies I look after arrive, depending on what day it is, and we all walk my daughter to school. During the morning and after lunch we do planned activities, following the curriculum guidance. We spend as much time as possible outside and in all weathers.

My childminding fees double prior to 7am and after 6pm to enable me to restore my house to a family home. I really enjoy watching the children grow, develop and learn. I keep in touch with the majority of the families of the children I have cared for.

AMBITION

I am expecting my second child in March, so will be taking a couple of months off work then. All the families have expressed a strong desire to return their children to my care afterwards.

Once I get my degree I plan to develop my career within the childcare sector, possibly as an inspector with Ofsted. However, I do enjoy the freedom of being my own boss and working from home.

OPTIONS

Not only has Byrony gained professional qualifications and a new career over the past five years, she has also achieved respectable acknowledgement by Ofsted that her provision is of a high standard. This understandably has led her to consider career progression and taking up work that enables others to benefit from her knowledge and experience.

- Play development officer

As Byrony has achieved a high standard in her practice and continued her childcare studies, she may want to consider this role. Usually employed by local authorities, it varies according to the council and the particular development area. For example, a play development officer may work specifically with out-of-school clubs and holiday play scheme providers, supporting good practice and establishing strategies to improve and develop play opportunities for children. This type of work requires a relevant degree-level qualification and a real commitment to the importance of high-quality play experiences. It would involve working with voluntary, maintained and private providers and liaising with partners to promote play strategies and issues. Knowledge of national standards for play provision is essential for this type of role.

Salary range: from £24,000

- Childminding network co-ordinator

Childminding networks are groups of professionally registered childminders assessed and then recruited to the network by the network co-ordinator. The practice of the networked childminders is assessed and monitored against the national NCMA quality assurance scheme, Children Come First, and the Quality Childminding Charter. The network gives childminders access to training, workshops and support meetings. Byrony would need to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of national standards for childminding and home-based care as well as management experience for this role, but it is a good way of sharing her enthusiasm and good practice as well as developing her new career.

Salary range: £18,000 - 25,000 (variable by region)

- Childminding tutor

Becoming an approved National Childminding Association tutor would enable others to benefit from her knowledge of good practice. From the local authority childminding network co-ordinator she would be able to find out about local opportunities, how the approval process works and the local qualification requirements for teaching in this field (this is usually, as a minimum, the City & Guilds 7407 qualification). The position would involve teaching new childminders on their initial Introducing Childminding Practice (ICP) courses and further Certificate in Childminding Practice (CCP) courses.

Salary range: from £15 per hour (part-time work generally)

- Tina Jefferies, director of the Red Space Company. www.redspacecompany.com.