 
Voluntary notification for Childminding:
How to Voluntary Notify
There are two types of childminder- those who are required to notify the HSE and those who can voluntary notify their City/County Childcare Committee.
Steps for prospective Childminders -
- Contact CMAO by phone, email or arrange to call into the office
- Arrange required insurance, Marina can advise on best value policies
- Complete the Voluntary Notification Guidelines
- Signing up to National Guidelines
- Commit to Child Protection and first Aid Training
- Commit to applying for Garda Vetting
Once these steps have been satisfactorily completed the Childminder's contact details will be inserted in the Directory of Services so parents can contact directly.
HSE Notified: This childminder can care for 5 children max and should apply to the Pre-school Services Officer, Commons Road, Navan 046-9073178
Voluntary Notification: This refers to childminders who are minding 3 children or less and can apply to the Childminder Advisory Officer, Meath County Childcare Committee, Commons Road, Navan, 046-9073010
All Voluntary Notified childminders to Meath Childcare Committee can take advantage of the many supports available, such as
- Assistance when setting up a childminding service, Including support visits to the home from the Childminder Advisory Officer
- On-going support for established services
- On-going training
- Guidance in record keeping
- Mutual support through the local network of childminders
- Information: The Starter Pack for childminders and potential childminders includes information on the National Guidelines for Childminders, the National Childcare Strategy, Best practice guidelines for childminders. This pack is available on request.
- Training: MCCC provides a variety of training courses for Childminders and those thinking of Childminding. These include the Quality Awareness Programme, First Aid and Children First training in Child Protection. FETAC level 5 childcare courses are available through Meath VEC. Other training such as Manual Handling and Business Training is arranged on demand.
- Networking: Network events are held regularly which provide a great opportunity for Childminders to meet with other Childminders and exchange ideas and relate experiences. Network events are advertised to Voluntary Notified childminders through out texting service and are open to childminders and parents.
- Home Visits: The Childminding Advisory Officer is available on request to visit the Childminder in their own home. The role of the childminding advisory officer is to support the childminder with issues and concerns they may have, relating to the delivery of their service and best practice.
- Voluntary Notification: Voluntary Notification allows childminders to voluntary notify their services with the CCC. In addition to support from Childminding Advisors, Voluntary Notification qualifies the Childminder to claim the Childminders' Tax Relief (�15,000 tax-free in 2007)
"Childminders Support Pack" for Voluntary Notification - in line with National Guidelines
The new National Guidelines for Childminders, are intended to provide guidance for good practice to assist childminders working in their own home. The guidelines promote and encourage a professional approach to providing a childminding service. They highlight four nationally recognised core areas where certain requirements should be met by childminders, namely Suitability of the person, wellbeing of the child, physical environment and health and safety.
In order to further support childminders to comply with the national guidelines Meath County Childcare Committee in conjunction with county committees from the region have developed a "Childminders Support Pack"
The support pack which contains information, sample forms and policies, checklists, advice and a step by step guide is available free of charge from the Childminding Advisory Officer Meath County Childcare Committee, Commons Road, Navan, Co Meath 046-9073010
To download the new Childminders Support Pack and the sample forms please follow the link above to go to the publications section of our website.
To find out more about the National Guidelines for Childminders or to avail of the Support Pack for Voluntary Notification, contact Marina Cunningham, Childminder Advisory Officer.
Update on Childminding Development Grant
The Childminding Development Grant is no longer available as the National Childcare Investment Programme Childminding Development Grant Scheme 2008 to 2010 has now finished. No further funding is currently available for childminders. However, if and when a new scheme is introduced we will inform all childminders.
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