The National Childminding Association
8 Masons Hill
Bromley
Kent
BR2 9EY
Telephone 020 8464 6164
E-mail: info@ncma.org.uk
Internet: www.ncma.org.uk

NCMA's Quality Standards

NCMA childminders aim to give children the best possible quality care. To help them do this, NCMA has adopted Quality Standards - guidelines for good practice that all childminder members of the Association must accept and follow.

The Quality Standards were enthusiastically endorsed by childminders at NCMA's annual general meetings in 1999 and 2000. Delegates voted to adopt the Standards as representing the core policies of NCMA and agreed that all childminders joining NCMA or renewing their membership should work towards them as a condition of membership.

The Quality Standards are based on NCMA's Principles for Excellence in Childminding. They are the result of lots of hard work - carried out by NCMA's National Executive Committee and childminding groups across the country - on defining good practice in childcare.

What is NCMA?

The National Childminding Association (NCMA) promotes quality registered childminding in England and Wales so that children, families and communities can benefit from the best in childcare and education.

Working in partnership with the Government, local authorities and other childcare organisations we aim to ensure that every registered childminder has access to services, training, information and support to enable them to do a professional job. We also aim to ensure that everyone who supports quality childminding and other home-based childcare and education has access to the information, training and support they need.

The 10 Standards cover every aspect of registered childminding:

o Taking a professional approach to childminding

o Children's behaviour

o Equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice

o Confidentiality

o Children's learning and development

o Working in partnership with parents

o Health and safety

o Nutrition

o Good business practices

o Support and liaison.

All childminders should be seeking to achieve the Standards in their regular, daily practice. The Standards are closely related to NCMA's Quality Childminding Charter, which must be reached by childminders who are recruited to a childminding network approved by NCMA under the Children come first scheme.

Childminders living in areas where no childminding network has yet been set up can use the Standards to prepare themselves for assessment and recruitment to an approved network. The Standards can also be used by childminders to demonstrate to parents and inspection officers that they have a professional and responsible attitude to their work.

The Quality Standards are printed in full here.

NCMA's Quality Standards

1. Take a professional approach to registered childminding

NCMA childminders:

are registered and comply with the requirements of their registration

have suitable insurance cover undertake relevant training where possible

keep up to date with childminding regulations and legislation

2. Manage children's behaviour

NCMA childminders:

l never slap, smack, shake, bite, frighten or humiliate a child

take a positive approach to managing children's behaviour

set clear boundaries for children's behaviour and share these with parents

give praise and encouragement when children live up to expectations

respond to unwanted behaviour appropriately, according to the child's age and level of uunderstanding

3. Promote equality of opportunity

NCMA childminders:

treat each child as an individual and with equal concern

give every child equal chances to learn and develop

take into account each child's age and stage of development, gender, ethnicity, home language and any disability

encourage children to develop a sense of their own identity and culture

help children to learn about cultures different from their own, and to develop positive attitudes towards people who are different from themselves

4. Respect confidentiality

NCMA childminders:

do not share information about children and families without the permission of the family

only break this rule in the interest of protecting a child, when they seek advice from appropriate professionals

5. Promote children's learning and development

NCMA childminders:

provide play activities and learning experiences suitable for each child's age and stage of development

support and stimulate children's Social, Physical, Intellectual, Communication and Emotional development (SPICE)

build learning into everyday activities

support and complement what children learn at home, school and pre-school

keep parents informed about their child's progress

6. Work in partnership with parents

NCMA childminders:

know that parents are the most important people in a child's life

recognise that parents know their own child best

exchange information about each child with his or her parents

show respect for each family's beliefs, traditions and wishes for the care of their children

arrange back-up cover for emergencies

review contracts with parents at least once a year

understand children's need for ongoing care with the same carer

7. Keep children safe

NCMA childminders:

pay careful attention to safety and hygiene

ensure a smoke-free environment while they are childminding

make detailed plans of what to do in an emergency

are aware of signs and symptoms of possible abuse and know what do to if they suspect a child is being abused

8. Know about nutrition

NCMA childminders:

discuss children's dietary needs with parents

provide children with a healthy, balanced diet

9. Have good business practices

NCMA childminders:

keep organised records of children's attendance, personal details and development keep accurate written records of accidents and incidents in an accident book

keep detailed financial records

1O.Seek support

NCMA childminders:

seek advice from other professionals when necessary

take advantage of the opportunities for mutual support provided by NCMA and local childminding groups.