|
Frequently
Asked Questions
If
you're unable to find the answers you need on this
website, email your question
to
info@childminding.ie
and we'll do our best to help you.
Childminders
How
do I join Childminding Ireland?
Will
my household insurance cover me for Childminding?
How
many children can I mind?
Does
a Childminder require any particular training?
Should
I be paying tax?
Should
I be paid for holidays?
I've heard about a grant for Childminders,
what is it, and how do I apply?
I am a Childminder do I need to have
policies and procedures in place?
Myself and a friend both mind children,
we wanted to do it together in my house -
can we mind 12 children between
us?
I'm starting childminding, do I need
to apply for "Change of Use" Planning
Permission?
Parents
Why
choose Childminding?
Can I have a list of Childminders in
my area?
Does
Childminding Ireland inspect or vet Childminders?
How
many children can a Childminder mind?
Should
I pay my Childminder's PRSI and deduct income tax?
How
do I find a Childminder?
What
should I look for when choosing a Childminder?
Do
I have to pay my Childminder holiday pay?
How does a registered Childminder
differ from others?
Is the Childminding contract binding
on both parties?
Can a parent insist on the non-use
of a Microwave oven?
How do I join Childminding
Ireland?
Telephone us on 01 287 8466, or e-mail your details
to info@childminding.ie
and we will send you out an application pack. Alternatively,
you can download the application
form.
The application procedure is as follows:
- Either complete the insurance proposal form
and return to Kidd Insurance, or ensure you are
covered for Childminding under your household
insurance..
Have application form stamped and signed by a
G.P.
Sign an undertaking that neither the applicant
nor any of their household has eveer been convicted
of a crime relating to children.
Return the forms and subscription to Childminding
Ireland. TOP
Will my household insurance
policy cover me for Childminding?
You should check with your provider.
In many cases, even if you are covered for minding
children in your home, the policy does not include
cover for outings, e.g. taking children to the park,
school etc. Members of Childminding Ireland
can participate in a group insurance scheme designed
especially for Childminders.TOP
How many children
can I mind?
You can mind up to five unrelated
children under the age of six. You can mind no more
than two infants under the age of 15 months. You
must notify your local HSE if you mind four or more
children. Here
is a Guide to the Pre-School Regulations.
TOP
Does
a Childminder require any particular training?
At present there is no specific training required
to become a Childminder. Although to avail of the
Childminder's Development Grant a Quality Awareness
Programme of training is one of the criertia. Childminding
Ireland would recomend that you avail of relevant
training in childcare and First Aid. Childminding
Ireland offer a Registered
Childminding Certificate course as a Distance
Learning Programme. It is recommended that Childminders
have training in First Aid. For further information
on relevant training courses in your area contat
your local County Childcare
Committee. TOP
Should
I be paying tax?
As
a childminder you are self employed and are responsible
for your own tax. Childminders who mind 3 or less
children, and whose income from Childminding is
€15,000 per year or less, are exempt from tax,
but must make a declaration to Revenue. Others should
be registered with the Revenue under the Self Assesment
taxation system, this does not mean that you will
pay tax, that is dependent on your profit, but it
means you can contribute RSI under Class S, and
avail of certain State benefits such as the Contributory
Pension Scheme. Childminding Ireland and
the Revenue have compiled a list of allowable expenses
to offset against your income. Download
our comprehensive Guide to Tax & PRSI for Childminders.
TOP
Should I be paid for holidays?
As a Childminder, you are self employed, and it
is up to you to negotiate a contract with Parents,
ideally before you start to mind child/ren, this
contract should not only include the rate of pay,
but contracted hours, levels of flexibility and
whether or not you will get paid for holidays.
The Childminding Ireland Survey
of Members shows that 38% of Irish Childminders
get 15 days paid holidays a year. A survey of Childminders
in England revealed that 57% of Childminders receive
4 weeks paid holidays and 27% receive 2 weeks paid
holidays.
The Northern Ireland Childminder’s Association
recommends that when you are negotiating your contract,
you should seek 15 days paid holiday per year. If
you wish to take extra holidays, outside these days,
you will not be paid, but similarily, if the minded
child is on holiday, outside these
negotiated days, you should be paid in full as normal.
I've heard about a grant
for Childminders, what is it, and how do I apply?
Capital grants of up to €25,000 are
available to Childminders who wish to improve the
quality of their Childminding service and increase
the number of childminding places. Grants can be
sought for increasing supply of childminding places
and for improvements such as extending the family
home, to provide a better quality service, to provide
bathroom facilities, safety features, garden play
area and equipment etc. You should apply using an
Expression of Interest form from your local County
Childcare Committee.
Childminder's Development Grants are capital
grants of up to €630 which are available to
Childminders to assist towards the cost of safety
items, books, toys or equipment to enable you to
offer a safer, stimulating environment for the children
you mind. Grants are available to insured Childminders
who: have not already recieved capital funding (above);
who mind at least one child full-time, or three
part-time; and who attend a ten hour, no-cost Quality
Awareness Programme. Details and application forms
are available from your local Childcare Co-ordinating
Committee or your Childminding Advisory Officer.
TOP
I am a Childminder do I need
to have policies and procedures in place?
Yes, under health and safety legislation you are
required to have a safety statement in place and
best practice requires that there should be a policy
and procedure for both the business and care aspects
of your service. If you are notified to your HSE,
the inspection team will expect to see policies
in place. Download Childminding Ireland's sample
policies and procedures for Childminders. TOP
Myself
and a friend both mind children, we wanted to do
it together in my house -
can we mind 10 children between us?
No, not as a Childlminder! The regulations define
a Childminder as a single handed person minding
children in the Childminders own home.
You can mind 5 children under 6 years of age. You
are required to notify your local HSE on the fourth
(unrelated), minded child under the age of 6 years
of age. The inspection team will determine how many
other children, (after schoolers), you can mind
depending on age an space ratios.TOP
I'm
starting Childminding, do I need to apply for "Change
of Use" Planning Permission?
No,
Childminders are exempt from the "Change of
Use" Requirement, and have been since 2002.
In Statutory
Instrument 2001 - 600 Childminding is listed
in the Regulations, Part 2 under Exempted Development.
"Development consisting of the use of a house
for childminding shall be exempted development for
the purposes of the Act"
Childminding is defined as "Childminding means
the activity of minding no more than 6 children
including the children, if any, of the person minding
in the house of that person, for profit or gain."
TOP
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Why
Choose Childminding?
Research shows children benefit from the small group
family setting, with continuity of care from one
person - often from infancy through to starting
secondary school. Like most families, the minded
children vary in age which promotes empathy rather
than competition for attention. A family home, with
regular outings, provides children with opportunity
to experience the world in a real way. They get
to know their locality and interact there with the
wider community. They can develop lasting friendships
with the Childminding family and other minded children.
Parents benefit from flexibility and an individually
tailored childcare arrangement which will change
over time as the child grows. Childminding offers
the opportunity for close communication with the
person who has sole responsibility for the child
during the Childminding hours. TOP
Can
I have a list of Childminders in my area?
No, our database of members is confidential. We
do however offer a vacancy matching service, please
contact Jacquie in the office or email jacquie@childminding.ie.
TOP
Does
Childminding Ireland inspect or vet Childminders?
No, we are a voluntary organisation and have no
remit to inspect. Inspection in undertaken by the
HSE where Childminders are required to notify, i.e.
they are minding four or more unrelated children
under the age of six. TOP
How
many children should a Childminder mind?
A Childminder can mind up to 5 unrelated children
under the age of six. Notification to the HSE is
obligatory if four or more children are being minded.
TOP
Should
I pay my Childminder's PRSI and deduct income tax?
A Childminder who minds children in her/his own
home is self-employed and liable for their own tax
/ PRSI. However, if the minder minds children in
your home the Childminder is deemed to be an employee
and you must pay all relevant tax and Social Insurance
contributions. TOP
How
do I find a Childminder?
The best way to find a good Childminder is by word
of mouth. Let colleagues, friends and family know
you are looking for a Childminder, ask at a parent
and toddler group etc, look for Childminders advertising
their services in local papers and notice boards,
contact Childminding Ireland, who will advise
you and check if Registered Childminders in your
area have any vacancies, also contact your local
Childminding Advisory Officer. TOP
What
should I look for when choosing a Childminder?
Arrange to visit the Childminder in their own home,
ideally when there are children there so you can
see if the atmosphere is happy and busy. Ask to
look over the house and see the areas available
to the children, have a look at the toys, books
and equipment to make sure they are safe. Ask lots
of questions, what experience have they? Are they
insured? Have they any training in child development
and first-aid? Why did you decide to become a Childminder?
What do they charge etc. You should always ask for
a character reference and follow this up. TOP
Do
I have to pay my Childminder holiday pay?
Childminding Ireland recommends that you
pay your Childminder for 52 weeks a year. In the
case of extended breaks, for example in the case
of parents who are teachers, it is usual for Childminders
and parents to work out an arrangement whereby a
proportion of the cost is paid to retain the place
. These arrangements should form part of the initial
contract that is agreed between Childminder and
parent. TOP
How does a registered Childminder
differ from others?
A Childminder who is registered with Childminding
Ireland will have clearance from their family
doctor, will have adequete insurance to enable them
to mind children in their own home. They are kept
up to date with best practice in childcare and have
access to a wide range of training and networking
opportunities. TOP
Is the Childminding contract
binding on both parties?
A YES, both legally and morally. Childminding Ireland
encourages its members to have Childminding contracts
in place, and to observe the terms of the contract
particularly the agreed notice period.TOP
|
