Childminder membership

Our membership programme offers childminders the opportunity to access a range of essential, cost-effective support designed to meet the changing needs of the sector.

It will support childminders in continuing to provide the highest quality care for children and meet the needs of parents and families effectively and support a positive outcome at inspection.

Our charged for membership provides a great value offer, allowing you to access all kinds of essential support, updates, visits, new materials and resources.

You will get all of the following benefits including those in the **universal service:

  • Termly update webinar to watch anytime
  • The opportunity to join either a face to face or virtual network meeting each term to discuss the essential information shared through the (above) webinar
  • Access to a half termly live virtual training workshop delivered by our team
  • Electronic samples of the mandatory policies and procedures
  • An electronic copy of our termly 'Spotlight on Early Years' Magazine with key update information and professional development
  • Unlimited support from your Childcare Development Officer via telephone, email or video calls
  • Your own copy of the Childminder Portfolio developed by the Early Years Quality Improvement Team
  • Access to our Childminder E-learning Business Hub
  • Safeguarding support from our Early Years Safeguarding Officer, Catherine Isherwood
  • Discounts on selected training and publications
  • Environment visits to the Early Years Professional Development Centre to inspire your practice and take-home key messages
  • Access to a members only Microsoft Teams channel where additional key messages and documents will be shared following each termly update meeting

*New childminders will get an extra visit in their first year to help them develop and embed their childminding practice

Membership Plus

For childminders who co-mind or work with assistants we can offer a Membership Plus to cover your whole setting costing just £80 per annum.

Membership Plus has been introduced to help make membership affordable to those childminders who work with an assistant or co-mind, without duplicating resources. Membership Plus offers the same discounts on training and resources to both you and your assistant(s)/co-minder(s), however one portfolio will be shared, as this is intended for the whole setting.

**Universal service

All registered childminders in Lancashire will have access to a universal service as detailed below:

  • Support visit from your Childcare Development Officer to your setting*
  • Telephone support from the Early Years Safeguarding Officer
  • Access to training courses (non-member rate)
  • Receive a termly update email
  • Advertise your setting to families through the Family Information Service

Universal service:  Available to all childminders in Lancashire at no cost

Childminder membership:  £60 per year (or payable at £15 per quarter)

Membership Plus:  £80 per year (or payable at £20 per quarter)

To become a member please click and complete:  Membership Application form

Email the team to request more information earlyyearscentre@lancashire.gov.uk

Members - if you would like to discuss your membership further, please contact your development officer: