Specially tailored childminder training sessions are being held in Durham aimed at people with previous professional experience of working with children. Durham County Council is running the two-day course on 18 and 22 July at County Childminder Training Sessions Offered Hall in Durham. The sessions cover information on Ofsted’s legal requirements of becoming a child-minder, hints and tips on the business basics of being self-employed, child safeguarding and early education in the home environment.

Olwyn Gunn, Cabinet member for children and young people’s services said: “Across the county we are short of child-minders and this is an excellent opportunity for anyone with previous experience of working with children in a professional setting to come along and find out more about becoming a childminder. “Those who have worked with children previously often make excellent childminders and as a council we are keen to register more, good quality, child-minders in the area, which in turn enables more parents with young children to go back to work.” The course is designed to be a basic introduction to child-minding and anyone attending will still be required to follow the standard application process with Ofsted to become registered.

The two-day course runs from 4.30pm-8.30pm on 18th July and 9am-3pm on 22nd July (both dates must be attended) and costs £75. For more information call 03000 268 917 or to book a place, please email eywfd@durham.gov.uk