Meet other childminders
Childminder groups at local Children’s Centres offer opportunities to meet other childminders. They are supported by a qualified practitioner who can help you when you start working. Childminders can get resources from libraries and toy libraries and some free short workshops are organised at childminder stay and play sessions.
Golden Lane Campus, Children’s Centre
101 Whitecross Street, EC1 8JA
Tuesday 10 - 11.30
Term time only
Jacqueline Joseph the early year’s practitioner will be available to support the group to plan for the next session, support children’s interests and giving practical advice on children’s learning and development.
Sandra Nicholson Childminding coordinator
New River Green Children's Centre
Ramsey Walk, Islington, N1 2SX
Tel: 020 7527 4813
Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30, Tearm time only
Muna Salab the early year’s practitioner will be available to support the group to plan for the next session, support children’s interests and giving practical advice on children’s learning and development.
Sandra Nicholson Childminding coordinator
Conewood Children’s Centre
14 Conewood Street N5 1DL Tel: 020 75274440
Thursday 9.30 -11.30, term time only
Esther Flynn the early year’s practitioner will be available to support the group to plan for the next session, support children’s interests and giving practical advice on children’s learning and development.
Jo Hunter Childminding coordinator
Highbury Roundhouse Community Centre
71 Ronalds Rd, N5 1XB, Mobile: 0750 498 6388
(2 weekly sessions for childminders & parents)
Wednesday & Thursday 9.30 – 12.30 term time only
Carmel Zanre, the early year’s practitioner provides a stimulating environment, through well-planned activities that support young children’s learning and development.
Sandra Nicholson Childminding coordinator
Caxton House Community Centre
129 St. John’s Way, N19 3RQ Tel: 020 7263 3151
Mondays 10.00 - 12.00 term time only
Celia Facey, is an experienced play worker, providing a stimulating environment, through well planned activities that support young children’s learning and development.
Jo Hunter Childminding coordinator
New Orleans Community centre New Orleans estate,
Hornsey Rise N19 3SY Tel: 07849 169765
Tuesday and Wednesday 10.00 - 12.30
Celia Facey, is an experienced play worker, providing a stimulating environment, through well planned activities that support young children’s learning and development.
Jo Hunter Childminding coordinator
Whittington Park, Early Years Hub
Holloway Rd, N19 4RS Tel: 020 7263 6896
Wednesday & Thursday 9.00 - 12.00
Samantha Wakelin the early year’s practitioner provides a stimulating environment, through well planned activities that support young children’s learning and development.
Jo Hunter Childminding coordinator
Willow Children’s Centre
1a Holbrooke Court, N7 0BF Tel: 020 7527 1990
Tuesday, 10 – 11.30 Term time only
Sharon Henry, the early year’s practitioner will be available to support the group to plan for the next session, support children’s interests and giving practical advice on children’s learning and development.
Jo Hunter Childminding coordinator
Partnership Working
We warmly encourage Islington childminders to work in partnership together with us. This supports the offer of high quality practice and provision in a home setting as part of Islington’s Bright Start services for parents and children. It can form part of your marketing strategy acting as an attractive selling point for parents who can be reassured that you are making the best use of the support on offer from the local authority. Information for parents on the local authority website encourages them to speak to their childminder about partnership working. You can participate in programmes such as Healthy Early Years London and the Register of Good practice.
Supporting documents are in 'Attachments'. For more information please contact Jo Hunter or Sandra Nicholson.
Register of Good Practice
To support your own professional development, early years practitioners and childminders are encouraged to visit settings or childminders listed on Islington's Register of Good Practice.
Islington childminders are also invited to attend termly forum meetings for regular updates, opportunities for networking and to share good practice.
Early years curriculum roadshow for childminders - webinar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcIl4MNC7Rk
This webinar explains about the curriculum for communication and language in the early years. We will also discuss what we've learned from our education recovery research about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s learning and development. The webinar is part of a programme of national roadshows for early years practitioners. It is designed specifically for childminders who, because they're often lone workers caring for children, cannot always attend roadshows in person.
Presenters: Wendy Ratcliffe HMI, Principal Officer – early education policy
Sam Sleeman-Boss, Early education and quality practice lead
Phil Minns, senior HMI
Promoting childminding as a childcare option and advertising
Islington Family Information Service, FIS, is a telephone and web-based information and advice service. Parents, carers and practitioners use the Islington online directory to find childminders or download the childminder vacancy list.
Islington childminders can advertise their services with the FIS including current and future vacancies. Speed minding sessions are organised by the FIS at local Children’s Centres where parents can meet childminders at an informal stay and play session. Parents can also visit regular childminder stay and play sessions at Children’s Centres to meet local childminders.
SEND Support in the Early Years
What to do if you think a child may have special educational needs
If you think a child in your care has special educational needs, you may want to speak to the Islington Early Years Area SENCO Team for information, guidance and support regarding planning your next steps. See the 'Triage Referral Process' page for details of how to contact the team and see 'SEND Support in the Early Years' for key documents. To find out what funding is available to support all Early Years practitioners - including childminders - to meet the needs of children with SEND in your care, see 'EY SEND Funding'.
SEND Support in the Early Years