CHILDMINDERS and carers in Swindon have been invited to get some free advice so their business can grow as healthily as the youngsters they look after.

People looking after children during the day play a vital role in allowing parents to go back to work.

But they have been warned that if they do not look after their business carefully they will not be able to survive and if they are not familiar with how to manage relationships with other agencies carefully they will be in trouble.

So to give all childminders in Swindon a chance to flourish free training sessions have been organised.

The first is on Saturday, and will teach childminders how to manage relationships with parents and local childcare agencies, and this is followed by a quick guide to marketing on Wednesday.

Both take place at the Steam museum in Kemble Drive between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

The courses are open to registered childminders of which there are about 400 in Swindon and also to people who work at team-managed childcare centres.

The Business Success for Childcare Programme, which is organising the courses, is funded by the Government's Sure Start programme, which also runs several childcare centres in Swindon.

It is run by training company A4e.

Sure Start minister Lord Filkin said: "I want every parent to be able to find good quality childcare, early learning and family support that they can afford and that suit their needs.

"This is essential if we are to ensure that every child gets a sure start in life.

"The Business Success for Childcare programme will help provide business support to childcare providers so that they increase their skills and knowledge and improve services to benefit families in the areas where they most need it."

A4e group chief executive Mark Lovell said: "Childcare providers not only deliver a vital community service in caring for our children, but they operate in a complex business environment.

"By delivering to them business training and support in the daytime, evenings and weekends, we hope that they can all benefit from this important and innovative programme.

"The more sustainable their businesses, the more likely Swindon will gain more childcare places as a result."

To register for a place at a workshop, or find out about other locations in the south west if the times of the Swindon sessions are unsuitable, call 0800 294 2904.

Further information is available at www.surestart. gov.uk/support4business