Ahoy there shipmates - it's time for the Big Toddle!

Ahoy there shipmates - it's time for the Big Toddle!

Childcarers across the country are registering now for the Barnardo’s Big Toddle, the UK’s number one fundraising event for under 5s.

For the first time ever, the children’s charity is introducing a fancy dress theme to its flagship event – swashbuckling pirates!

The Big Toddle is a short sponsored walk which saw close to half a million under 5s register to Toddle in 2009 alone.

The vital funds raised by the Big Toddle go towards supporting Barnardo’s Early Years work, including services for children with physical and learning disabilities, autism and behavioural problems.

Here are a few simple ways childminders can get their toddlers Toddling:

• Join a local pre-school, playgroup or nursery organised event
• Take part in a Barnardo’s organised Toddle event – these take place across the UK throughout the summer months. Details of which are on the Toddle website (www.bigtoddle.co.uk)
• Organise their own Toddle with friends and family - at a park or even in their own garden!

To find out how to take part you can visit the website www.bigtoddle.co.uk or call 0845 270 9900.

To celebrate the DVD release of MOTHERHOOD starring Uma Thurman and Minnie Driver SCMA is giving away three DVD's.

To celebrate the DVD release of MOTHERHOOD starring Uma Thurman and Minnie Driver SCMA is giving away three DVD's.

New comedy MOTHERHOOD follows Uma Thurman (Kill Bill, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Dangerous Liaisons) as mother and wife racing against the clock to prepare for her daughter's sixth birthday party in the face of chaos.

MOTHERHOOD portrays the challenges of juggling a career and motherhood. With a supporting cast featuring Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) and Anthony Edwards (ER, Top Gun, Zodiac), Motherhood is a sweet comedy about life and family.

The DVD is available from 8 March 2010. Log onto www.motherhoodmovie.com for more competitions to be won and details about the film!

To win a copy of MOTHERHOOD, simply email your answer to the question below to information@childminding.org.

Question: How many children does Uma Thurman have?

Children’s Consultation Worker 1.5 days per week on average (six-month contract) £26,000 pro-rata

Children’s Consultation Worker
1.5 days per week on average
(Six-month contract)
£26,000 pro-rata
(could be based anywhere but travel throughout Scotland will be required)

The Children's Parliament is looking for someone who can bring children’s voices to the debates around the right to play using creative methods of participation. The Children’s Consultation Worker will work with Children’s Parliament staff and IPA Scotland volunteers to design and deliver a method of consulting with children in a variety of settings, on the importance, barriers and enablers of play. They will then work with Children’s Parliament staff to write-up the final report and produce a children’s poster presenting the findings.

The Parliament need someone with the imagination and creativity to open up discussion on this topic with children, excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Substantial experience of working with children is essential. Flexibility around working hours and a willingness to undertake an enhanced Disclosure Scotland check.

For an informal discussion please contact Vicki Burns or Colin Morrison at The Children’s Parliament on 0131 558 9030.

To download an application pack please go to www.childrensparliament.org.uk

Closing Date 12 noon Monday 8 March
Interviews to be held on Friday 12 March in Edinburgh

Heinz has informed us that as a precautionary measure they're conducting a nationwide recall on isolated batches of their Fruit Medley Fruity Custard.

Heinz has informed us that as a precautionary measure they're conducting a nationwide recall on isolated batches of their Fruit Medley Fruity Custard. They've found that in a small number of the pots there have been reports of pieces of plastic from inside the pot that could present a choking hazard to your baby.

The affected batch code is 9307 with a best before end date of 03/11/10. These details can be found on the foil lid of the pots. Alternatively, you'll find the best before end date on the outer cardboard packaging. The recall only affects pots that were bought since 18th December 2009 and it's important to note that no other Heinz product is affected by this recall.

The safety of our customers' babies is very important to us. Do not continue to feed this product to your baby. You can dispose of this at home and contact the Heinz Careline on 08000 151 557 for a refund or, if you'd prefer, you can return the pots to your nearest Boots store for a refund or exchange.

If you've bought this product for someone else, please let them know about this as soon as possible.

Heinz apologises for any inconvenience. If you need further advice regarding the Fruit Medley Fruity Custard (4 x100g) please contact the Heinz Careline where they'll be able to help.

At the end of May this year, the second-ever National Family Week will take place, encouraging people across the country to celebrate being part of a family, whatever shape or size.

At the end of May this year, the second-ever National Family Week will take place, encouraging people across the country to celebrate being part of a family, whatever shape or size. Scottish Childminding Association supports this campaign and encourages those working with children and young people to join with hundreds of other organisations to run events and activities for families in their local community.

Essentially National Family Week aims to highlight the important role families play in society and encourage healthy active lifestyles and quality family time. National Family Week is the largest coalition on family issues and is backed by all major political parties and a huge range of national charities, local authorities, community groups, visitor attractions and sporting associations, plus a whole host of celebrities.  The inaugural National Family Week which took place between 25 and 31 May last year saw over 4,000 events happening across the country and garnered over 1,300 pieces of media coverage. National Family Week 2010 is to run between Monday 31 May and Sunday 6 June and aims to be even bigger and better, engaging with many more families.

To support this national campaign you can run events and activities for families in your local community. Events can happen at any time during The Week, but you may wish to tie in your plans with one of The Week’s theme days, for example the Family Week Picnic on Monday 31 May, Family Week, Family Week Story Time on Wednesday 2 June, Family Week House Party on Friday 4 June and the Family Week Sports Day on Saturday 5 June.

You can run events as fundraisers, to showcase the good work that you do, to get a serious message across to families or simply to have fun. They could be pre-existing events, just co-branded National Family Week or new events run specifically for The Week. National Family Week will supply branded materials such as stickers, posters, bookmarks and balloons at no extra cost.

All events can be registered on the National Family Week website, so that they appear on the searchable events map. This will encourage families in the local area to attend and will also promote your organisation. For further information on the plans for The Week, theme day toolkits and promotional resources, visit the National Family Week website at www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk and register for the Partner Zone.

A video on the award winning Routes to Inclusion childminding project in South Lanarkshire has been released.

A video on the award winning Routes to Inclusion childminding project in South Lanarkshire has been released.

The Roues to Inclusion project, run in conjunction by SCMA and South Lanarkshire Council, won a SURF award late last year for showing excellence in partnership. The judges said of the project,

"The project differs from normal childcare programmes in that it provides a holistic approach to childcare by providing the means for young mothers to seek employment, or further education, which they would otherwise not have had the opportunity to do so.

The judges were particularly impressed at the true sense of partnership that was apparent between South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Childminding Association, and, most importantly, the young mothers who were benefitting from the project.”

Click here to watch the video.