Update 7 November 2023: Extended deadline for childminder assistants meeting qualification requirement now 30 November 2024

Following our news story, in this blog we take a closer look at what the changes to the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare (NMS) mean for those working, or looking to work, with a childminder assistant in Wales.

Welsh Government published a refresh of the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for regulated childcare on the 19 May. This follows a 2019 review and public consultation in 2022-23.

What changes have been made in relation to childminder assistants?

The standards have been revised to be clearer. In particular Standard 13: Suitable person (CM) sets out the responsibilities and role of registered childminders working with a childminding assistant and the relevant training an assistant must undertake. This includes the requirement for assistants to have successfully completed an appropriate course recognised in Social Care Wales’ Qualification Framework. A lead in time is provided for new and existing assistants to meet this new requirement.

Update: extended deadline for childminder assistants meeting qualification requirement. On 7 November Welsh Government confirmed an extension of the lead in time for childminders to meet Standard 13.4 (CM) from end of November 2023 to end of November 2024.

The Welsh Government have included additional guidance as an annex in the NMS.

What is the definition of a childminding assistant?

A childminder assistant can be an employee or a volunteer in a paid or unpaid role who works with children under a registered childminder. It would not include a student on placement in a child minding setting.

Do I need to notify CIW about my intention to work with a childminding assistant?

Childminders must notify CIW about their intention to work with an assistant to look after children. The notification must be made through the childminder’s CIW online account and in advance of the assistant starting to work at the service.

What childcare training does an assistant need to complete?

Any assistant employed by a childminder must have successfully completed an appropriate course recognised in Social Care Wales' Qualification Framework. Existing childminder assistants are required to have attained the required qualification by the end of November 2024 (Standard 13.4(CM)).

The framework notes Introduction to Home-based childcare (IHC) as the current unit accepted, PACEY Cymru can deliver this training, see home-based childcare training in Wales. Those who hold one of the past qualifications noted in the framework do not have to complete IHC. Please contact your local authority childcare team for details on how to access training and funding available. Welsh speakers that are members of PACEY (or join as a member of PACEY) may be able to access Welsh language funding for their course through PACEY Cymru. Please email paceycymru@pacey.org.uk for further details.

When do new and existing assistants need to have completed the course by?

On 7 November Welsh Government confirmed an extension of the lead in time for childminders to meet Standard 13.4 (CM) from end of November 2023 to end of November 2024.

Please note for those that have already enrolled on the training you have been given an individual completion date. You must ensure that you work towards completing your training by this completion date, all current learners will have received an email with further information. If you have any questions please contact paceycymru@pacey.org.uk.

If I take on an assistant after the deadline do they have to have completed the course before they start work?

Yes, After the deadline any assistant employed by a childminder must have successfully completed an appropriate course recognised in the Social Care Wales’s Qualification Framework. This will need to have been achieved before starting work as a childminder assistant.

What first aid training does a childminding assistant require?

Any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a Full Paediatric First Aid certificate (12 hours) before commencing child minding. (Standard 10.22)

If the assistant is not left in sole charge of children, they should have an Emergency Paediatric First Aid certificate. The Emergency Paediatric First Aid certificate (6 hours) should be undertaken within three months of starting work. (Standard 10.23).

A lead in time of 18 months until the end of November 2024 is provided to enable providers to meet the new qualification requirements related to First Aid.

All first aid certificates should be kept up to date and renewed every 3 years.

Local Authority childcare teams will be able to advise on courses available locally.

What safeguarding training does a childminder assistant require?

The assistant must have completed child protection/safeguarding training and must be able to put the child protection/ safeguarding policy into practice and implement the procedures. This includes awareness of safeguarding and child protection issues, including physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse.

The assistant must be aware of their responsibility to report concerns according to the Wales Safeguarding Procedures without delay.

Annex C of the NMS- Safeguarding Guidance: Roles and Responsibilities details the types of roles in childcare and playwork and the safeguarding training appropriate to different roles within the sector.

Annex C states for childminder assistants the relevant training is group B (Level 2 Safeguarding Intermediate Course.

A lead in time of 18 months until the end of November 2024 is provided to enable providers to meet the new training requirements.

Local Authority childcare teams will be able to advise on courses available locally.

Can a childminder assistant be left alone with children?

If all the requirements of the NMS are met in full then a childminding assistant can be left alone with children. There is detail below on some of the requirements and further detail in Annex A of the NMS and in the standards themselves.

The contract between the childminder and the parents/carers should include details about when their children will be left alone with an assistant and parents/carers should sign their agreement to this.

If the childminder starts to work with an assistant after the contract is in place, then the contract must be amended to include details about when their children will be left alone with an assistant and parents/carers sign to confirm their agreement.

Policies and procedures must be amended where relevant to reflect working with an assistant and when children will be left alone with the assistant. Parents/carers should sign agreement to any policies and procedures where it reflects a childminder assistant’s role in working with children.

Can more children be cared for in the setting if working with a childminding assistant?

The maximum number of children for whom a childminder working alone may care is as follows.

• Ten children up to 12 years of age
• Of those ten children, no more than six may be under 8 years of age
• Of those six, no more than three may be under 5 years of age
• Of those three children, normally no more than two may be under 18 months of age, although exceptions can be made for siblings.

When working with an assistant the same adult:child ratios apply to the assistant, as the childminder, for any additional children. However, the available play space may affect these numbers.

If an assistant is not working, then the child minder must revert to the ratios for working alone.

You may also need to consider local planning requirements that may impact the number of children you can care for.

What details need to be included in the Statement of Purpose (SoP) in relation to childminder assistants?

• Clarification that the assistant is not registered with CIW and the childminder is responsible for ensuring suitability for the role. Details about the assistant including confirmation that the suitability checks, in accordance with both regulation 28 of the Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010(as amended) and the NMS, have been undertaken before the assistant commences work.
• Details about qualifications and experience of the assistant.
• Description of roles and responsibilities of the assistant.
• Details of the length of time and types of activities/outings where children will be left alone with an assistant. If an assistant is not left alone with children this should also be specified in the SoP.
• Confirmation on the numbers and ages of children that an assistant will be caring for if left alone.
• How the assistant will be supervised and monitored.

What do I need to be aware of in relation to recruitment, induction, supervision and appraisal of a childminder assistant?

Annex A of the NMS has further details in relation to the recruitment, induction, supervision and appraisal of a childminder assistant. Childminders need to read this and ensure it is understood and implemented in practice.

What records need to be kept for a childminder assistant?

The childminder should keep a staff file for each assistant including records related to name, address, contact numbers, recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal, training and qualifications. (Standard 13.7CM)

The hours any assistant works including any hours where they were working alone and the names of the children they are responsible for at these times should also be kept (Standard 13.8CM)

What insurance is required when working with an assistant?

If the assistant is using their own transport for minded children, they must have valid driving and vehicle licences, appropriate insurance cover and where required a current MOT certificate.

The childminder must hold Employers Liability Insurance if employing an assistant(s) and provide any required detail to their insurer around the roles and responsibilities including the time any child(ren) are left alone with the assistant to ensure there is valid insurance in place. There is information about Employer’s Liability Insurance cover on the PACEY website.

Further support

If you have any further queries please contact PACEY Cymru by email paceycymru@pacey.org.uk or telephone 02920 351407