CORONAVIRUS: Alliance launches ‘Welcome Back Childminders’ resource bundle to support childminders in the reopening of their provision

The Early Years Alliance has today announced the launch of a new ‘Welcome Back Childminders’ resource bundle to support childminders with the reopening process to coincide with the recent easing of lockdown measures.

The â€˜Welcome Back Childminder’ bundle contains three comprehensive resource packs developed to support childminders as they consider the implications for welcoming children back to their home or provision.

Each pack contains:

  • Adaptable resource templates
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Notes to guide user through each topic
  • Links to further information and resources

The bundle is available free to members with a cost of £15 to non-members. All three packs are included in the bundle which is available for download from today (Tuesday 2 June) via the Alliance shop:

 

The first pack â€˜Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing’ focuses on supporting childminders own mental health and wellbeing as well as those of the children in their care. 

This includes advice on the emotional implications for childminders, children and their families to support them in returning to the ‘new normal’. The pack also offers practical ideas and resources to support the transition from lockdown and to meet the needs of those who have suffered loss or difficult experiences during the coronavirus outbreak. 

The pack also includes a â€˜More about Me’ template which will allow practitioners to gather information of a child’s experience during lockdown, to support the transition between home and return to childcare.

The second pack â€™Creating a Safe and Enabling Environment’ supports childminders to consider the practical actions required for re-opening. 

This pack includes a template which helps childminders to complete the required risk assessment, building on the government guidance to focus on additional areas of risks to consider when re-opening. 

The third pack â€˜Meeting the Needs of Every Child from Day One’  aims to help childminders support the personal, social and emotional development of every child on their return. 

The pack develops on the content of pack one and emphasises on using the EYFS principles to inform best practice. There are four important templates included in this pack:

  • Template 3.1 Pre-start Checklist: Asks childminders to consider the process for contacting parents and children prior to re-opening
  • Template 3.2 Settling in Observations: Focuses on ‘post-it note’ observations, which will have a different focus as a child re-settles in.
  • Template 3.3 Virtual Home Visits: Offers guidance for childminders on arranging a ‘virtual home visit’ to help bridge the gap if normal ‘settling in visits’ are not possible. 
  • Template 3.4 Pre-start Assessment and Starting points: This will help childminders to explore importance of establishing every child’s starting points again. This can be used before children start and used as a basis for continued observation during the settling in period. 

The ‘Welcome Back Childminders’ bundle is also supported by a childminder specific webinar on reopening, which was initially broadcast on 21 May but is available to all on the Alliance’s YouTube page: 

Commenting on the launch of the ‘Welcome Back Childminders’ resource bundle, director of quality improvement at the Alliance, Michael Freeston, said:

“We’re delighted to today launch the ‘Welcome Back Childminders’ pack which aims to support childminders who have re-opened or are planning for the reopening of their provision as lockdown eases in the coming weeks and months.

"The resources build on the latest DfE guidance and provides childminders with comprehensive advice on considerations such as preparing the home environment to reduce risks, the transition from home to childcare, as well as support on mental health and wellbeing of childminders and the children in the care. 

"It is our hope that through this set of resources, we can offer comprehensive guidance and share expertise to help reassure and support childminders across the country who have already re-opened or are taking the daunting steps towards re-opening in the coming weeks.

 

 Editor notes 

  • The Early Years Alliance is the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England. A registered educational charity, it also provides high-quality affordable childcare and education to support children and families in areas of deprivation throughout the country.
  • The Alliance represents 14,000 members and supports them to deliver care and learning to more than 800,000 families every year. We deliver family learning projects, offer information and advice, produce specialist publications, run acclaimed training programmes and campaign to influence early years policy and practice.
  • The Alliance website is