Estonian childcare service by childminder Liina Kanter Advisor

“Estonian childcare service by childminder” Liina Kanter Advisor Department of Children and Families 30. 11. 2010

Goals for child and family policy in Estonia To ensure children’s rights, to improve familie’s quality of life and to encourage parents to have a number of children they wish.

Measures for achieving child and family policy goals Ensuring childrens rights; Parent support and education; Promoting males bigger participation in family life; Improving child protection system and developing needful services for children; Supporting financially families with children; Early education and care of children

Early education and care – one key issue in child and family policy Equable education and care for children; Almost 60 000 parents participation in labour market; Higher employment of women and higher birth rate; Equal opportunities for women and men to reconciliation of working, family and private life; The fight against poverty and social exclusion.

Birth rate in Estonia has decreased (2008 TFR 1, 65) sociological and demographical reasons

Children birth leaves Estonian women aside of labour market

Challenges Since births have increased over the past decade, the provision of childcare has become a more pressing issue in Estonia – not enaugh pre-school child care institutions 39% of local governments; The number of children in pre-school age is enlarging and start decreasing again after 2020; Women with small children work considerably less: while the employment rate of fathers of children under the age of six was about 82. 4% in 2009, only around 50% of the mothers of children in this age group were employed. The EU averages were 88. 7% and 59. 7% respectively.

About projects to fight the challenges To alleviate the lack of childcare places, a program (slides follows) of state support for local authorities was developed in 2007. The government allocated 1, 4 billion krooni (€ 88 million) for 2008 -2011 to build and renovate nursery schools, but since 2009 program is temporary stopped because of economic recession; The private sector is also gaining a presence in the field and local governments often support private care providers with appropriate premises or financial support. Legislation has been adopted for the development of additional childcare services since 2007 including the definition of professional standards for care providers.

“A day care place for every child” To alleviate the lack of childcare places, a program of state support for local authorities was developed in 2007 for years 2008 -2011. In 2008, pre-school child care institutions received: 75 million krooni (€ 4, 9 million) for the teacher’s remuneration; 75 million krooni (€ 4, 9 million) for developing the learning environment; Another 75 million krooni (€ 4, 9 million) was allocated for the building of new and renovation of existing pre-school child care institutions.

Pre-primary institutions (preschool establishment) Local government is obligated to provide all children aged 1, 5 -7 with an opportunity to attend a pre-primary institution; This obligation includes children with physical, speech, sensual or intellectual disabilities or those who need special help or special care; Pre-primary institutions fulfil the task of children’s day care as well as education and schooling; It is not obligatory to attend a pre-primary institution and it may be acquired also at home.

“Children taken care of, mothers at work” Project was implemented in 2005 -2007 by Office of the Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs in co-operation with Family Education Institute and Põlva Union for Child Welfare; Transnational partners were from Wales, Italy and France. The main objectives of the project, which had a total budget of some 3 million krooni (€ 195, 000), were to promote conciliation between work and family life and increase employment of parents through the creation of flexible childcare system in Estonia.

Project measures The project was through three principal measures, namely: Launching a successful childminding system in Estonia through legislation, training, practical work and a national level exam; Creating an independent, creative ‘playroom’ in the city of Polva (in the south-east of Estonia), which serves as a model example; Widen the knowledge of alternative childcare opportunities through information campaigns and transnational research and partnership. By the end of the project an Estonian childcare model had been created.

Childcare service (childcare provision) Childcare service is social service, while child is cared and developed by (professional) childminder to support parents coping, participation in labour market or studying; It is considered as an extra care opportunity for those who cannot find a place in pre-primary institutions for their children or prefer this type of care for different reasons;

Childcare service (childcare provision) Since January 2007, childcare service and its requirements are regulated in Social Welfare Act, with purpose to increase children’s security in the situation, while children’s are temporary under others persons care. Service can be offered by childminder who is working as sole trader, or in private limited company, non profit organization etc.

Professional childminder Childminder (nanny) is person who is in good physical and intellectual standing and personally take care of the child; Compared to the requirements for pre-primary institutions, the requirements for childcare service by childminder are less strict, first and foremost when it comes to teaching the child and the educational requirements of the childminder.

Requirements for childminder To be a childminder, should be fulfilled following requirements: Age at least 18 years; Education level at least basic school education, plus childcare schooling at least 160 hours, plus first aid schooling; Personality, that is suitable for working with children; Passed health control and medical paper by doctor; Profession certificate issued by special obligated organ for 5 years.

Schooling According to the childminder training program, the schooling take place in vocational educational institutions and institutions of professional higher education. Also, the private or third sector agencies with educational license can arrange trainings; The training plan must meet the requirements of the childminder; Childminder’s professional standard stipulates the necessary knowledge, skills and personal characteristics of the child care and development. It is possible to request a childminder’s II and III level qualifications.

Requirements for providing childcare Childcare by one childminder is allowed to take care of: Up to 5 children simultaneously on child home; Up to 10 children in other suitable rooms; If there are more than 5 children in childcare, then younger than 3 -years old child or (severe or profound disability) disabled child will be considered as two children.

Crèche and full day care Childcare can be divided into two by duration: crèche (under 4 hours a day) or full day care (more than 4 hours a day); Requirements for childcare service for full day care enlarged as follows: Childcare provider ensure child nutrition by special requirements from Food Act; If service is provided in others suitable rooms than child home, should be guaranteed bed as well.

Health protection requirements for providing childcare Requirements for environment are mostly appointed in Public Health Act and contain issues as: Fresh air, water, light, canalization, conditions for using bathroom, phone etc. Rooms, stairs, furniture, outside playground requirements ensure, that environment would be safe and based on children’s needs.

Most spread childcare forms in Estonia Childcare in child‘s home – max 5 children, requirements by law are the smallest, cause the assumption, that it is already suitable environment for child; Childcare in childminder home – max 5 children, requires rooms adjustments. Also all childminder’s adult family members should be with good mental health and pass medical control; Playroom – place where child can play for some hours, one childminder can simultaneously take care of max 10 children. Requires rooms adjustments. Child can stay in playroom no longer than 4 hours. Children and childminders can vary. Does not require nutrition or bed for sleeping.

Most spread childcare forms in Estonia Child-minding – One childminder take simultaneously care of 4 -5 children in different age. Can be in child’s home or in childminder’s home or in some other suitable rooms. Criteria are: Group is constant; Childminder is always the same; Children are in different age; If some of the criteria is not fulfilled, it is not a childminding.

Funding in childcare Childcare service by childminder is generally paid by parent, but some local governments support parents by compensating this service partly or fully; Funding system and circumstances in local governments are different; Childcare service for children until 18 -years with severe or profound disabilities is supported by the state budget. If the childcare service is funded by local government or by state, is required action licence by county government.

Under 3 -years old children in early education and care

3– 6 -years old children in early education and care

Development All local governments have a development plan that usually covers activities and objectives related to early years education and care, taking into consideration the area’s demographic situation and needs; By Ministry of Social Affairs “Children and families development plan 2011– 2020” is being drawn up and should be completed by June 2011. Plan includes also developments and activities related to early years education and care.

Thank you! Contact: Liina Kanter Advisor Department of Children and Families Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia Tel. 00372 6269 361 Liina. Kanter@sm. ee www. sm. ee