You are invited to take part in a research study titled “Achieving high-quality provision for babies among childminders in England”. Before you decide to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please email Kayla Halls at k.halls@mdx.ac.uk if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information.
What is the purpose of the study?
The research project ‘Achieving high-quality provision for babies among childminders in England’ aims to open up the conversation about what quality provision means in childminding provision for babies. It focuses particularly on the experiences and skills of childminders working with 0-2-year olds, and aims to develop a cohesive and collaborative vision for the future of this workforce.
Through conversations with childminders and childminding assistants, we wish to explore working patterns, working conditions, status, sense of professionalism and professional learning among childminders in England. This will help us pinpoint the strengths, weaknesses and gaps in the current preparation of and support for childminders working with babies as seen through the sector’s eyes.
To do this, we will be holding three in person CPD conferences, aiming to reach at least 100 childminders and childminding assistants.
Why have I been chosen to participate?
In order to gain a thorough understanding of childminders’ professional experiences, it is important that we reach as many as possible. The only criteria for inclusion into this part of the study is your role as childminder or childminding assistant working with, or considering working with, children aged 0-2 years old. We will be holding three in person CPD conferences, aiming to reach at least 100 childminders. Within this group of early education and care professionals, we are hoping for people from as many different life and work perspectives to participate.
Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether to participate in a conference. If you do participate in a conference, you will be asked to complete surveys, polls and participate in a focus group. If you do decide to take part in the focus group, you will be given this information sheet and you will also be asked to complete a consent form if your personal data will be processed. If you decide to take part, you are still free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason.
If, for any reason, you wish to withdraw your data provided during the focus group part of the study, please contact the researchers before participating in the focus group on the conference day. After this point, it may not be possible to withdraw your individual data as it will no longer be possible to attribute to individual participants. Furthermore, if you wish to withdraw the data you provided through questionnaires and polls, please contact the researchers before participating in the focus group on the conference day.
What will I have to do?
You will have been asked to fill out a brief survey (5-10 minutes max) when you registered for the conference. A few quick poll questions will be asked throughout the conference day, for a maximum involvement of 5 minutes. Finally, there will be a workshop that will function as a focus group, which will last a maximum of 45 minutes. Participants to the conference will be randomly divided into three focus groups, which at high level will all discuss similar topics.
What are the possible risks or benefits of taking part?
Appropriate risk assessments for all procedures have been conducted and will be followed throughout the duration of the study; we have not identified any risks to you of taking part.
To maximise benefits of research participation to you, we have decided to collect data during conferences designed specifically to support the professional learning and development of childminders and assistants working with babies. In other words, we hope that participating in this study will also help you as it will afford you access to a day of continuing professional development specifically focused on working with babies and completely free of charge.
Data Protection and Confidentiality
Personal data (e.g., your name, email address, voice or any data that can identify you) will be processed by this study and your confidentiality will be protected. All information you provide will be processed in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018. Please click on the link below to view/download the Middlesex Privacy Notice for Research Participants:
https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/privacy/privacy-notice-for-research-participants
Focus groups during the conference will be audio recorded to enable the research team to focus on the participants without having to take notes. Recording will be transcribed for thematic analysis and at this point, the data will be anonymised so that no individual can be identified. Only the research team will have access to the recording, which will be deleted at the end of the project along with any other data collected during the conference.
Who has reviewed the study?
The study has received full ethical clearance from the Middlesex University Research Ethics Committee.
Contact for further information
If you require further information, have any questions or would like to withdraw your data then please contact Kayla Halls via email: k.halls@mdx.ac.uk
www.childmindingbabies.blog 