Childminders Voluntary Notification
Certain categories of Childminders are legally obliged to notify the HSE that they are providing a childminding service, while others are not obliged to notify.
The DCCC encourages all Childminders who are not obliged to notify the HSE of their service to become ‘Voluntary Notified’ to the Donegal County Childcare Committee. The new ‘National Guidelines for Childminders’, provide voluntary standards for exempt Childminders. Childminders choosing to sign up to the Guidelines can avail of support to assist them in meeting the standards. The Childminders’ Advisory Worker will help you through the ‘self evaluation’ process, providing sample forms, policies and check-lists to clarify the requirements.
Downloads
National Guidelines for Childminders Revised August 2008 (PDF – 3.5MB)
First Steps: Childminders Starter Pack (PDF – 260KB)
Next steps: Good Practice Guidelines Childminding (PDF – 436KB)
Tax Information for Childminders (PDF – 304KB)
HSE Notification
Who is obliged to notify the HSE?
Under the Child Care Act 1991, a person minding more than three pre-school children from different families is obliged to notify the HSE or her/his childminding service, with some exceptions. (For a detailed report see Child Care Act 1991)
A ‘pre-school child’ is a child who is under six years of age and who is not attending a national school or a school providing education similar to a national school.
A Childminder must provide specific information to the HSE as part of the notification process. This information is set out in the Childcare (Pre-school Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2006. A Childminder should contact the local Pre-school Officer to get a copy of the Notification Form (for those who are obliged to notify). The HSE provides an advisory service and an inspection service for all childcare services including Childminders who are required by law to notify them. The HSE will make available to any interested person information on pre-school services in its area.
Steps to HSE Notification – (minding more than 3 pre-school children)
Step 1: Contact the Pre-school Office of the local HSE to request a Notification form
Step 2: Once the HSE receive your completed Notification form they will contact you to arrange a visit
Step 3: Notified childminders are inspected annually and are required to comply with the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006
Step 4: Your name will be entered on the public list of childminders that is made available to parents through the HSE.
The HSE provides an Advisory Service and an Inspection Service for all childcare services including childminders who are required by law to notify them.
Voluntary Notification
Childminders who can become Voluntary Notified to the Donegal County Childcare Committee
Where a Childminder is minding:
- hildren under the age of six years who are attending a national school or a school providing a similar educational programme; or
- pre-school children who are all from the same family, or who are the children of the childminder’s relatives, or
- no more than three pre-school children who are from different families;
However, a Childminder might wish to voluntary notify that a service is being provided and can do so by contacting the local CAW.
Benefits of Voluntary Notification and HSE Notification
Becoming notified helps childminders to adopt a more formal approach to their business. It benefits Childminders by opening up access to a range of supports including information, networking and training available through your Childminding Advisory Worker (CAW), which will help childminders to improve the quality of their services.
It also benefits childminders who wish to:
- Operate to a high standard
- Have your work valued and their contribution to the childcare sector recognised
- Obtain guidance on the development of policies and standards in childcare
- Attend conferences, seminars and other events for childminders organised by your local CCC
- Avail of financial supports such as grants and the childminders Tax Exemption
- Remove the isolation often experienced by childminders
- Have your names included on a public list of childminders which is made available to parents (optional).
Steps to Voluntary Notification – (minding 3 pre-school children or less)
Step 1: Contact your local CAW requesting the National Childminders Guidelines
Step 2: First of all read carefully and thoroughly through these Guidelines which include the nationally recognised Core Requirements and good practice recommendations for childminders
Step 3: Use the ‘Next Steps, Best Practice for the Professional Childminder’
- To develop your policies and procedures
- To meet the criteria of the four Core Requirements of Voluntary Notification
- To complete the Self-Evaluation form
Step 4: Arrange a support visit to your home with the CAW
Step 5: When the Self-Evaluation form is complete, the CAW will sign off on the Voluntary Notification Form, following which, you will be sent confirmation that you are voluntarily notified to your local CCC
Step 6: A Certificate of Voluntary Notification will then be issued to you
Step 7: Your name can then be entered on the public list of childminders that is made available to parents through your local CCC (optional)
Step 8: The Certificate of Voluntary Notification will be renewed annually.
The Childminders Advisory Worker will be available throughout the Self-Evaluation to help, advise and guide you through the process and resolve any issues which may arise.
