Now, in these days of austerity, you’d be forgiven for thinking councils are a bit reluctant to hand anything out. While their counterparts have been forced to make cutbacks, Bolton Council is to hand over £100,000 to registered childminders.
‘Where’s the catch?’, Gifted Originals hears you say. Well, to be eligible for the grants of up to £3,000, the childminder has to part of Bolton’s National Child Minding Association-run Children Come First network. The network, which will share the £99,000 in capital grants, said, “While a grant of this amount awarded to a network is not unheard of, it is unusual, and shows recognition of the important role childminders play in supporting local communities.”
The money will be used to buy much-needed equipment and toys, and is seen as recognition on the Council’s part that child minders are of similar importance to schools and nurseries.
Quite right, Gifted Originals says. Toys are a vital part of a child’s early years development, and as many toddlers are looked after by child minders, it’s high time they received a bit of support!
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