The National Childminding Association (NCMA) has welcomed the changes to the national care standards for under-eights daycare and childminding, which came into force on 1 September, as they would 'help protect children and also acknowledge the professionalism of registered childminders'.
Last week Ofsted issued guidance for care providers, in which it said that under Standard 11 on behaviour and physical punishment and interven- tions, 'physical punishments, or the threat of them, must not be used. This includes smacking'. It added that childminders must never shake children in their care because this can cause brain damage.
NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes said, 'We are particularly pleased about the ban on smacking because it has finally been underpinned by law. As a result of our campaigns, children in every registered childcare setting in England will have the same protection from physical punishment that has existed in schools for many years.'
Standard Seven on health tells childminders that they 'must not smoke in the presence of children and no-one else in (the) house must smoke in children's presence'. It adds that the childminder must store matches, lighters and smoking materials safely and out of children's reach and ensure that all rooms where smoking occurs are well ventilated.
Childminders will still normally be registered to care for only one child under one year of age. However, changes to Standard Two mean that childminders who can 'demonstrate that they can meet and reconcile the varying needs of all the children they care for may be able to care for two children under 12 months'.
Under the revised standards, independent schools with children as young as two on their premises are subject to Ofsted inspection for the first time.
However, an Ofsted spokesman said that it would not be providing guidance for childcare provided by independent schools 'because any care provided by an independent school fits into one of the four existing categories of daycare - full-day care, sessional daycare, out-of-school care or creches'.
Ofsted said its guidance for care providers 'should also be useful for inspectors and those in local authorities who work to give information, advice and training to providers'. It added that the guidance should also be helpful for new applicants as they prepare for registration.
Mrs Haynes pointed out that childminders had already committed themselves to bans on smacking and smoking by signing up to the NCMA's own quality standards. 'It's great to know that their views are now finally endorsed by the Government,' she added.
