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Choosing High Quality Childminder Care
Every child is unique, with their own needs and interests - and
every parent is unique too, with their own particular
circumstances, preferences, views and feelings about the kind of
care that their child should receive.
You naturally want to do the best for your child - and this is
what this page is intended to do.
Tips and pointers to aid you in your decision-making
What to look out for
There are four key things that distinguish good, high-quality
childcare, and early or pre-school education services from poor
childcare services. Those four key things are:
- Quality staff - are they trained and/or experienced, and
ready to respond to the needs of your child?
- Good premises - are they clean and safe with plenty of
space for your child to play and explore?
- Fun activities - are these planned for your child each
day, and supported by good resources, toys and equipment?
- Welcoming atmosphere - do you and your child feel welcomed
and cared about when you arrive?
Top questions to ask
These are all questions that you can put to
any childminder who's service you may be considering. If you're unhappy
with any answer you receive, try somewhere else.
- How long have you been a childminder?
- Do you have any qualifications or have you attended any courses
on childminding?
- Do you enjoy being with children, and why?
- Can I look around your home to see the rooms and outside play space?
- If there is no outside play space, how will you make sure that
my child gets the chance to play outside?
- Where will my child rest?
- What kind of food and drink will you provide, or can I provide
my own?
- What will my child do all day?
- How do you encourage good behaviour?
- Will my child be with a regular group of children?
- How old are these other children?
- How will their timetable fit in with that of my child?
- Who else lives in the home?
- How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?
Quality pointers
It is always a good idea to visit a childminder that you're
considering sending your child to in person. When you do, look
out for these "quality pointers" - you could add your own to the
list as well.
- Do the children appear calm, safe and happy?
- Do children play and talk together?
- Does the childminder listen to children and answer them
carefully?
- Are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn
and play?
- Can children help to plan some of these activities themselves?
- Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to
use?
- Is the home clean, well kept and safe for children?
- Is there an outside play area? If there is no outside play area,
will children go to parks and other such places regularly?
- Do you feel that the childminder has given you the opportunity
to say what you want for your children?
- Do you feel that they have listened and understood?
- If there are any other issues that you'd like to discuss, do not
be afraid to ask. Any good childminder will expect such
questions, and should be willing and able to answer them.
Good practice
This is a list of four other good tips to consider when
choosing a childminder
- Listen - to your child. They are the ones who will have
to spend their days with the childminder after all! Always find
out more if they seem unhappy or unwilling to attend
- Trust your feelings - you know your child, and are the best
judge of whether they will be happy and will thrive with any
particular childminder
- References - always take up references, and check them
back to their source if you think that's necessary. You could
also ask for the names of other parents to talk to about your
chosen childminding service
- Inspection reports - always ask to see the OFSTED (Children
Services) inspection report for the current year.
What to do if you're concerned
If you have any concerns at all about the quality or integrity
of your childcare provider, you can contact the regulating body
-
OFSTED (Children
Services) - on 0845 601 4772.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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