Finding the perfect overnight care childminder A free information guide for parents provided by childcare.co.uk
Many parents have to work overnight and it can be hard to find a childminder who provides this service. However, Childcare.co.uk have over 200,000 childcare providers listed on their website so there is a good chance you will find a childcarer in your local area who is able provide overnight care. Don t forget to look on the route to work as well as close to your home - this will enable you to extend your search area and give you more chance of successfully finding an overnight care childminder who suits your child s needs. Overnight care and Ofsted Parents and childminders will note that overnight care details have been removed from new-style Ofsted registration certificates (since Sept 2012). This is because any request to offer overnight care must be treated by the childminder as a variation to their current conditions of registration. Once you have found a childminder in your area who offers overnight care, there are a number of things that must be considered and discussed by parents and childminders before arrangements are made. For example, there are strict rules about how changes to the childminder s conditions of registration (also known as variations) must be managed. Before a variation for overnight care is put in place, Ofsted must be informed and the childminder must prepare a risk assessment and fully discuss all aspects of overnight care arrangements with parents. Parents should be shown or should ask to see a copy of Ofsted s approval for overnight care provision letter. Meeting the requirements of the EYFS 2012 It is up to each childminder who offers overnight care to make sure they meet all the requirements of the EYFS 2012 related to overnight care including - The childminder (as the registered person) must be on the premises - EYFS requirement 3.29. The childminder must be able to hear the child - EYFS requirement 3.41 - via a monitor is fine. The childminder s paediatric first aid certificate must be up-to-date date - EYFS requirement 3.24. The childminder must ensure that an adequate supply of clean bedding, towels, spare clothes and any other necessary items is always available - EYFS requirement 3.59. The childminder must consider what additional measures are necessary when children stay overnight - EYFS requirement 3.61. This means the childminder should share a robust risk assessment with parents. The childminder must prepare policies and procedures in writing to comply with the requirements of the Childcare Register 2012. The safeguarding and concerns and complaints procedures must be shared with parents in writing. The childminder must inform Ofsted about overnight care arrangements - EYFS requirement 3.76. Childcare.co.uk recommends that parents ask their childminder if all these procedures are in place.
Other documentation Ofsted certificate requirements - if the childminder does not have a new-style certificate from Ofsted, they must request one with previous conditions removed. Ofsted will send a replacement certificate on request. Ofsted s telephone number is 03001231231 and both parents and childminders can contact Ofsted on this number if they need any further advice. Fees - childminders are self employed and it is up to each childminder to set a fee for overnight care and to clarify what hours are covered by the fees - and when their normal daily rate takes over. Contract - it is strongly recommended that a written contract is in place before care starts. This should detail overnight care hours, days, fees and any care needs. Contracts will also include information about the childminder and the child s family. Child information form / all about me document - information about the child s individual care needs must be requested - including details about their diet, learning and development, care needs etc. Children s home routines - childminders and parents will need to discuss how to accommodate children s home bedtime routines eg. Agree a bedtime routine including timings and what flexibility should be given. Negotiate how many stories will be read. Find out about child s bath time - do they enjoy being in the water? Bath or shower at home? Discuss what you do if there are repeated requests for a drink or food. Discuss what happens if, for example, children climb out of bed and go downstairs - as a one-off event and repeatedly. Things parents need to bring Parents should be provided with a list of things they need to bring. This might include, for example... Sleep wear and clothes for the next day Bottles of milk for little ones Medication including creams Comforter - if normally used Nappies and wipes / night time pads as used at home Toiletries - toothbrush and paste, small bottle of normal shampoo, hair brush or comb
Routines Where possible the child s home bedtime routines should be accommodated. Childminders should discuss their family routines as a starting point for negotiation - At night Tea time Activities offered Bath time Bedtime story Lights out. Morning routine Get up and dressed Breakfast Bathroom routines Activities offered Time to leave the house. Many overnight care childminders will have further documents and information to share with parents including a policy and a risk assessment. Parents can use the following advice (which was originally written for childminders) to give them further information about the types of documents they should be given or shown before their child starts in the care of an overnight care childminder. If parents have any concerns about their overnight care childminder, they should contact Ofsted for guidance. Ofsted can be contacted by telephone - 0300 123 1231 or by email - enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.
Overnight care policy Childminders should have an overnight care policy and this should be shared with parents. This policy will form part of the childminder s policies and procedures file, which will contain other statutory procedures such as one related to complaints and one which covers safeguarding children and child protection. Parents should ask for a copy of these 2 procedures if they are not offered. Other policies and procedures covering, for example, behaviour management, procedures for emergencies, medication administration and risk assessments must also be discussed prior to the child starting in the care of the overnight care childminder. An overnight care policy should talk about the childminder s Ofsted registration, variation request (permission to offer overnight care) and insurance which must be in place before overnight care is offered. The policy should also inform parents that the childminder aims to ensure children s health, safety and wellbeing during overnight stays. Additional care needs for children who are attending the provision for overnight care should then be discussed with parents such as - Emergency contact details - childminders should ask for at least 2 emergency contacts in addition to the child s parents; Food and drink offered by the childminder; Child s home bedtime routines; Whether the child wants to use their own bedding, pillow etc; Nappy changing / toilet use during the night; Medication needs - if medication is required the childminder must ask for permission to administer it and this must be in writing; Written permission to take the child on outings; Child s need for a night light; Requirements for prayers or other salutations before sleep; Providing space for children to do homework if they are cared for overnight on a school night; Sleep habits - bed wetting, nightmares, sleep walking or talking - including discussion about the need for consistent handling of any issues that arise; Safeguarding - including bathing, getting changed into pyjamas, calming children in the night etc. Note - if a child is cared for a continuous period of 28 days or more, they are regarded as a foster child and childminders are legally required to notify the local Social Services.
Writing a risk assessment for overnight care Parents should ask to see the childminder s overnight care risk assessment and can use the following advice to check that their overnight care childminder is taking care to ensure their home and procedures are appropriate for caring for young children overnight. The EYFS 2012, which is the statutory document with which childminders must comply, states that risk assessments do not necessarily need to be in writing. However, if they are not in writing childminders should have considered how to explain them verbally to parents, Ofsted and insurance investigators if there is a problem. Risks to children are potentially greater when everyone is asleep so childminders should consider as many different areas of provision as possible in their risk assessments. Risk assessments might cover - Accidents and injuries - accidents do happen, even in the safest and most controlled environments. Childminders must discuss procedures for accidents and injuries with parents including emergency procedures such as what will happen if a child needs to be taken to hospital during the night. Alcohol - children must be protected from adults drinking alcohol and bottles or cans of alcohol must be kept out of sight and reach of children (not in a fridge or on an open shelf). Parents should ask to see storage arrangements. Bedding and towels - these must be washed after each overnight stay. Childminders should discuss what powder might be used if, for example, a child has eczema. Beds - the location of cots / beds should be discussed with parents. If appropriate, discussions should also take place about child safety if, for example, children share a room. Behaviour management - it is a requirement of the Childcare Register that behaviour management policies and procedures are in writing and discussed with parents. Childminders are not allowed by law to physically chastise a child. If a child is physically restrained in order to keep them safe, childminders must provide parents with a written record of the incident. Blinds - consideration must be given to cords on blinds to ensure children do not choke. Parents should check that blind cords have been shortened. Childminders must have considered children s safety and have procedures in place to protect children from accidents such as stair gates, blind cords, climbing out of bed / cot, lockable windows, carbon monoxide detectors, regular smoke alarm tests etc. Concerns and complaints - parents must be supplied with a copy of the childminder s concerns and complaints procedures which must be in writing and must include contact details for Ofsted. This is a requirement of the Childcare Register.
Cross contamination - childminders should have procedures in place for routines such as changing bedding, towels etc; use of mattress protectors; cleaning floors, toilets and bathrooms etc to protect children from cross contamination risks. Decorations in sleeping areas must be appropriate for young children. Distressed child procedures should be discussed and put in place. Emergency evacuation procedures for eg gas, electricity and water emergencies must be in place. Fire escape procedures must be written from the perspective of how to escape from bedrooms and there should be a commitment to keeping fire exits clear of obstructions. It is not a requirement for childminders to have fire safety signs displayed - but they must have an emergency evacuation procedure which must be in writing and shared with parents to comply with the requirements of the Childcare Register. Emergency information - parents must give childminders information about who is available to collect the child in the event of an emergency overnight (such as onset of illness or extreme distress) and keep the information updated. If parents are unavailable, another named person must be contactable to collect the child if necessary. If the emergency contact is not known to the childminder, parents and the childminder must agree a password. Fire escape practices should be carried out regularly with overnight children. Parents should ask to see evidence that fire escape / emergency evacuation procedures are in place and might ask for information about how often practices are carried out. Fire precautions - smoke detectors should be in place in areas used by children; electrical equipment should be checked to ensure wires etc are out of sight and reach of children; consideration should be given to eg water in lidded cups located near electrical outlets; tools etc must be removed from bedrooms. Fire safety - childminders should have requested a free fire safety inspection from their local fire officer - and should share the outcome with parents on request. In Scotland this is a requirement before childminders offer overnight care. Food provision - if food is offered to children who are staying overnight, parents wishes must be recorded and followed. Childminders must be registered as a food business with their local Environmental Health Department and use the document Safer Food Better Business for Childminders. Parents should check kitchen hygiene and food storage procedures are in place. Health - childminders should share an illness and sickness policy with parents and discuss management of illness. Health and safety - childminders should turn off gas and electrical appliances eg boiler, washing machine, tumble drier, television etc at night. These procedures should be discussed fully with parents and a health and safety policy must be in writing and should be shared. Insurance - must be in place and shown to parents before care starts.
Intruders - childminders must lock doors and store keys safely so they are easily accessible to adults (not children) in case of emergency at night. Medication storage and administration - it is a requirement of the Childcare Register that this procedure is provided for parents in writing. If children arrive with medication this must be given to the childminder and instructions about medication administration must be in writing. Missing child procedures - it is a requirement of the Childcare Register that this procedure is provided to parents in writing. Safeguards must be in place to ensure children do not go missing - for example, key storage should be carefully considered. Nappy changing procedures - if appropriate (depending on the age and stage of development of the overnight child) nappy changing procedures must take account of the child s individual needs. Nappy changing equipment must be stored out of sight and reach of the children and children must be protected from, for example, asphyxiation risks presented by nappy bags. Open fires - childminders must have a spark guard in front of the fire and discuss how the fire is damped down at night. Ratios - childminders must consider how they will get sleeping children out of the house in an emergency. Parents should consider how many children are sleeping in the house and how they will all be helped to leave if there is an emergency situation. Childminders must work within their ratios at all times - these are no longer listed on the childminder s registration certificate except in exceptional circumstances - they are stated in the EYFS 2012. Room temperatures must be appropriate for sleeping babies and children - parents should ask to see the childminder s bedroom thermometer. Safe sleeping (SIDS) advice should be available and childminders and parents should discuss how often children will be checked during the night. Smoking - children must be protected from the dangers of smoke and smoky atmospheres. To comply with the Childcare Register, childminders must have a no smoking policy in writing. Safeguarding - this must be discussed carefully before the child is left alone with the childminder. Questions parents might ask include - o o o o o Where is your safeguarding procedure? Parents must be provided with a copy of this procedure in writing to comply with the Childcare Register. It must include information about mobile phone and camera use and procedures in case an allegation is made against the childminder or visitors / other children. How do you ensure inappropriate adults do not come into contact with children? How do you make sure only people with a DBS (formerly known as CRB) check are in the house during the evening and night? Who will go into my child s bedroom to comfort them in the night? What clothing do adults wear when childminded children are in the house?
o Privacy - there is no law about the age at which children of the same or opposite sex can share a room. However, this needs to be discussed if children are expected to co-sleep. Security - keys must be stored safely and doors locked. Children must not be able to leave the house without adult supervision. Smoking - it is a requirement that nobody smokes in a house where childcare is provided. Candles etc should be fully extinguished before bedtime. Toilet and washing facilities - these must be hygienically clean. Parents should ask for a walk round the childminder s house and garden before committing to care. Parents should be reassured that children will be protected from cross contamination of bodily fluids. Toileting - children who use the toilet during the night must be supported. They might need, for example, night lights or lifting to use the toilet before adults go to bed. This will need to be discussed so children do not, for example, fall down the stairs. Visitors - childminders must have a written visitor procedure which is shared with parents - this is a requirement of their registration on the Childcare Register. Note - every childminder will have a different set of risk assessments because every provision is unique. This list is a guide only. Childcare.co.uk recommends that you speak to your childminder and discuss any aspect of the risk assessment about which you are unsure. Before an overnight care arrangement is finalised, parents should ensure they have carefully inspected the childcarer s documentation - please see Checking Childcarer Documentation - information for parents. Please note that while Childcare.co.uk takes every precaution to ensure only qualified childcarers register on our site we cannot verify references, DBS / PVG checks, qualifications, Ofsted registration details etc for childcarers who are registered on our database. It is, therefore, very important that parents carry out their own robust checks during the interview process.
References etc EYFS (2012) and related documents Childcare Register 2012 Risk Assessments for Childminders from Knutsford Childminding Ofsted About websites used in this information guide - in places this information guide links to other websites. The author and distributor cannot be held responsible for the content or availability of these sites. Disclaimer - however carefully researched the material in this information guide might be it is not possible to guarantee its accuracy or completeness. The author and distributor therefore accept no liability for any inaccuracies or any loss or damage arising from the use of or reliance on details obtained from this information guide. Individual Ofsted (England), CSSIW (Wales) and Care Inspectorate (Scotland) inspectors might expect different ways of doing things from others and the ideas contained in this information guide are indicators of best practice only. About information taken from EYFS statutory documents - information for this guide to the learning and development requirements of the EYFS has been taken from the following source www.foundationyears.org.uk. Information sourced from the Department for Education has been reproduced as per the Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information, which can be viewed on the following website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence. The source of the information is acknowledged as EYFS Crown Copyright 2012. Copyright protection - if any person is tempted to pass on any of the pages in this information guide for reward or profit, please be aware that, unless you ask for specific written permission from the owner and distributor of this information guide before making the transfer, you may be in breach of UK copyright law. The owner and distributor reserve the right to take legal action in such an instance.