Inspection in Wales
Childminders in Wales are registered and inspected by the
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW).
Childminders in Wales are inspected once every two years (unless
there is a need for an earlier visit) and the inspection is based
on the experience of a child within the childminder’s setting.
Every three months, CSSIW sends pre-inspection packs to
approximately 25 per cent of the childminders registered in Wales.
This pack contains a childminder’s self-assessment form and
questionnaires with reply-paid envelopes for parents. The
accompanying covering letter explains that the childminder is
required to complete and return the self-assessment form within 14
days, along with a copy of their most recent Review of Quality of
Care report. Childminders should then expect an unannounced
inspection visit within three months.
When planning the inspection visit, the inspector will take into
account the information on the self-evaluation form about regular
outings and when there are likely to be children at the
setting.
The inspector uses the information from the self-evaluation form
and the information from the parent/carer questionnaires to plan
the focus of their inspection. Planning the inspection in this way
means the inspector is able to spend more of their time interacting
with the children at the setting and taking part in some of the
activities. Completing the self-evaluation form beforehand means
there is less need to spend time completing and checking paperwork
during the inspection visit.
The children and their parents are the main users of the
childminder’s service, and so the inspector will want to spend time
with the children during the visit, and also want to hear the views
of parents. The inspector may lead an activity with the children to
find out what they really like about being with their childminder –
they might use persona dolls or pictures to get a good impression
of the child’s experience of the setting.
At the end of the inspection visit, the inspector will give the
childminder a verbal report. Any urgent requirements will be
recorded in writing and left with the childminder for action. The
inspector will send their written report to the childminder within
28 days. The childminder then has 14 days to check the accuracy of
the report which will be amended if the inspector agrees there are
factual errors. The report will focus on the strengths of the
setting, areas of good practice and any areas for improvement.
Unlike in England, there is no grading system in Wales for
childminder inspections.
