The Aims Of The Registration System

The Children Act 2004 states that anyone who looks after other people’s children in their own home must be registered with the Early Years Directorate of Ofsted in England or the Care Standards Inspectorate Registration in Wales.

It will be necessary, when applying for registration, for you to be able to prove to your local department that your home meets the legal requirements to provide a safe and secure environment for the children you intend to care for.

You will need to demonstrate that you are a suitable person to provide care for young children and that you take your responsibilities seriously.

The registration system is in place so that Ofsted can aim to:

• ensure that all childminders meet the National Standards

 

• protect children and provide reassurance for parents/guardians

 

• promote environments where children are safe and well cared for

 

• ensure care contributes to development and learning

 

• promote high quality childcare provision.

 

Regulations

Ofsted regulates childminding in the following four ways:

Registration

This process covers checks on you and your premises together with any other adults who live or work on the premises where you intend to carry out your childminding service.

Inspection

Ofsted inspectors will carry out checks on your childminding service periodically. You will be issued with a report setting out their findings and any actions they feel you must take. This report must be made available to parents.

Investigation

An Ofsted Childcare Inspector may carry out an investigation into your childcare provision to check that you are meeting all the National Standards and requirements.

Enforcement

If necessary, Ofsted can take action against you if the National Standards and other requirements are not met.

Disqualifications

Anyone wishing to become a registered childminder must meet the standards and conditions set out by Ofsted. There are certain factors that may disqualify you from becoming registered and if this is the case you will not be able to become a childminder.

Your registration may be disqualified if you or any person who lives or works with you has been:

• put on the Protection of Children Act list which considers a person unsuitable to work with children

 

• convicted or charged with any offence against a child

 

• convicted or charged with certain offences against an adult

 

• listed on the Department for Education and Employment List 99 which considers a person not fit and proper to work with children.

 

A Department of Health guide to the Protection of Children Act 1999 is available on the government website www.doh.gov.uk/scg/childprotect .

The National Standards And What They Mean

There are 14 National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding. These standards cover all aspects of childcare in a range of settings. Inspectors from Ofsted (England) or CSIW (Wales) will use the criteria set out in these standards when considering your application to become a childminder. For information on what Standards apply in Scotland contact the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, and for Northern Ireland, the NICMA (see Useful Contacts).

Standard One: Suitable Person

Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.

For an adult to be deemed suitable to look after children, or have unsupervised access to them, they must first comply with all the conditions of registration. Conditions of registration include a vetting procedure where the information supplied is verified with the relevant sources. Police checks are also carried out to enable the inspector to determine whether the applicant is a suitable person to care for, or have regular contact with, children. To comply with Standard One you must be suitably qualified and agree to notify your regulatory body if you intend to employ an assistant.