Championing Childcare
in Cyprus by Nicola Hammond
P
roviding lifelong support to Forces and their families is at the heart of what SSAFA does and what we have been
doing with the military community for over 128 years, both in the UK and overseas.
For a service families posted overseas, SSAFA understands how important it is for them to know that there are alternative childcare options available, especially as when the immediate family network is not close at hand to call on for help. By opting for a child minder registered with SSAFA, parents can be sure their child’s interests are in safe hands.
As part of the professional health and social care services delivered to serving personnel and their families in Cyprus, SSAFA provide a child minding registration service. More importantly our childcare co-coordinating staff have reviewed and refined the application process to make it is simpler and more straightforward. Now SSAFA is looking for new child minders!
Gemma Knight registered as a child minder with SSAFA in Jun 12. She runs her own child minding service from RAF Akrotiri, where she has been based for over three years with her husband, who serves in the RAF.
Gemma said she was drawn to child minding because of all the fantastic opportunities the career offers, from making a difference to a child’s life, to being your own boss and working from home. “I wanted to get back to work and this role was the perfect solution. Operating from my own home allowed me to choose the hours I worked and the type of service I provided. I also knew that if we were moving around with the RAF, childminders would always be needed, so it would be a transferable skill.”
Childminders registered with SSAFA are trained and qualified in matters of safeguarding, undergo detailed background checks and complete a paediatric first aid course to help deal with any emergency a child under their care might experience. They
Jill Shaw
also understand and apply the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Jill Shaw, who co-ordinates childcare in Cyprus for SSAFA explains, “Childminding offers the opportunity to not only run your own business but also enjoy a satisfying and important job helping children to learn and develop, sharing their success and offering them consistent care of a high standard.”
Gemma admits that childminding was a challenge at first, especially with a child of her own. “Naturally, your time is split and your children have to get used to sharing their toys and their mummy! But our house very quickly became a busy child-friendly zone and now we’re very used to having lots of little people running around. Childminding fits into our family way of life really well.”
Gemma Knight 40 Envoy Spring 2014
To find out more about becoming a registered child minder with SSAFA, contact Jill Shaw on (00357) 9961 8672 or Kayleigh Duddy on (00357) 2474 4453, or you can collect a registration pack from your local SSAFA office or HIVE.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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