Safeguarding children
Registered childminders are required by Ofsted in
England and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW)
to ensure that all children in their care are safe from harm. They
have a legal obligation to ensure that the protection of the child
is their first priority at all times.
Initial training for all childminders and nannies should include
child protection and awareness of local procedures for safeguarding
children. NCMA recomends that all new childminders and nannies
undertake the unit "Understand how to set up a home-based childcare
service", as this contains information on safeguarding children.
More information
about the unit and how to register for this training is available here.
There are a number of units in the full Diploma for the
Children and Young People's Workforce which cover safeguarding
children. Childminders wanting to extend their knowledge can opt to
do these units as part of the full diploma.
It is also good practice for registered childminders and nannies
to access additional local training. Local authorities should have
training available for all practitioners. Contact your local
authority or local NCMA office for
details of training in your area.
Alternatively, find out about distance learning courses from
other training providers such as the NSPCC or Educare (external
links).
Safeguarding
Children, produced by NCMA and endorsed by NSPCC, is a useful,
downloadable guide for childminders and nannies to child
protection.
At inspection time, childminders will have to demonstrate that
they consider the safeguarding of the children in their care as
their main priority. The requirements for childminders in England
are outlined in the
Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's
Workforce and in Wales there are clear guidelines in the
National Minimum Standards for Childminding.
To help safeguard children, NCMA:
- promotes safe working practice
- works in partnership with NSPCC and EduCare to enable
registered childminders and nannies to access training
- supports local involvement in the Local Safeguarding Children’s
Boards (England) and the Area Child Protection Committee
(Wales)
- provides child protection awareness guidance to all its staff
when they start working for NCMA
- works with Ofsted/DfE/CSSIW to make basic child protection
training mandatory for all registered childminders and approved
childcarers and to ensure that they have appropriate policies and
procedures in place.