This page provides an outline of the ten quality Standards for Childminding Services which has been developed to ensure consistency across all childminding establishments and make the registration and regulation of childminding services possible. The National Standards will facilitate monitoring and inspection with the aim of improving the quality of services.

1. Early Learning
   Childminders should promote early learning by:
   • planning and managing daily routines that create opportunities for children to play alone or in groups, indoor and outdoor,
   • having adequate age-appropriate early learning resources organised in ways that help to stimulate play experiences.Childminders should monitor and record children’s progress by:
   • being aware of children’s developmental milestones and watch points,
   • observing children’s daily activities,
   • identifying learning needs of each child,
   • establishing ways to communicate with and report regularly to parents on children’s progress and development.

   
   

2. Interaction
   Childminders should have positive, warm and responsive relationships with all children by:
   • using play and interaction with children to support active learning,
   • modeling positive behaviour with children and others,
   • avoiding children’s exposure to inappropriate activities (e.g. inappropriate films),
   • guiding, promoting and encouraging appropriate behaviour through praise, reinforcements and inculcating positive living values,
   • offering opportunities for children to practice self-direction, independence and self-discipline,
   • building confidence and trust instead of instilling fear,
   • listening and using positive messages,
   • discouraging inappropriate behavior,
   • not using corporal punishment.

   
   

3. Health
   Childminders should promote children’s health and protect children from illnesses by:
   • ensuring that their facilities are sanitized and hygienic particularly, the kitchen, bathing and toilet facilities, indoor play and sleeping areas,
   • encouraging appropriate hand washing and diapering practices,
   • promoting dental care procedures and practices,
   • discouraging saliva-sharing behaviours,
   • demonstrating basic knowledge in first aid and having a fully-equipped First Aid kit available,
   • having a plan in place in case of accidents, injury or emergency,
   • ensuring that medications are appropriately administered as per agreed plan with parents and are properly stored and recorded,
   • demonstrating understanding of common acute and chronic conditions in children (e.g. asthma, epilepsy)
   • promoting healthy habits and practices in children at a young age,
   • ensuring that play areas, toys and other objects that children use are washed and sterilized.

   
   

4. Nutrition
   Childminders should provide healthy and balanced diet to children by:
   • ensuring proper handling and storage of breast milk for breastfeeding infants,
   • appropriately preparing, storing and feeding of formula milk,
   • planning and preparing meals according to the age, abilities and encouraging children to eat,
   • serving nutritious snacks, meals and drinks,
   • providing adequate intake of drinks for hydration,
   • guaranteeing adequate supervision during meal times,
   • ensuring provision of safe, clean and boiled water for consumption,
   • discussing the menus with parents,
   • promoting food safety and practicing fire safety measures.

   
   

5. Safety
   The necessary precautions to protect the safety of children and staff on the premises should be taken. Childminders should:
   • prohibit smoking, drug use and other illegal activities in the facility,
   • not operate in close proximity to premises where alcohol is being manufactured, sold, consumed or where there are similar trades,
   • ensure that the facility is free of pests and insects,
   • prevent domestic or other animals from having access to areas where children are being taken care of, play, sleep or where food is being prepared and served,
   • take precautions to be adequately prepared in case of an emergency by having emergency plans and contact numbers in place in cases requiring emergency medical care or evacuation,
   • ensure that the building is structurally stable and that adequate precautions have been taken to reduce the risk of fire,
   • ensure there is a proper and safe route, fire exit door and that doors and windows allow for easy evacuation,
   • make sure that the establishment is within reasonable distance from the main road with vehicle access and free from harmful vegetation,
   • ensure the availability of safe cooking facilities, appropriate storage of hazardous substances and safe electrical outlets,
   • be adequately prepared for fires by putting in place fire safety equipment (e.g. fire extinguisher, smoke detectors, manual gong/bell),
   • have in place an evacuation plan and route well known by adults,
   • designate a safe assembly point in case of fire and other calamities.

   
   

6. Child Rights and Protection
   Childminders should ensure that all children in their care are safeguarded at all times by:
   • prohibiting any adult with a record of suspected sexual or physical abuse to come in contact with any child,
   • ensuring close supervision and that the children are in the care of a responsible adult in case of the childminder’s or assistant’s absence,
   • reporting any incident to parents and having parents sign an incident log,
   • promoting good rapport between parents and families,
   • allowing parents and Social Workers to enter the establishments,
   • monitoring and reporting signs of abuse or neglect outside of establishment,
   • providing an inclusive service to all children including those with mild special needs.

   
   

7. Staffing
   In order to operate a childminding service, childminders and assistants should:
   • have basic literacy and numeracy skills,
   • be medically fit as ascertained by a Medical Doctor,
   • have no records of criminal activities,
   • provide only a childminding service and no other services during operational hours,
   • maintain an approved quota, not exceeding 10 children based on the space available,
   • be of 21 years of age and over,
   • participate in on-going training and professional development.

   
   

8. Physical Environment
   To ensure a safe and secure environment for children to develop, a childminder should:
   • operate at an accessible floor level,
   • ensure adequate lighting and ventilation,
   • ensure access to treated and sufficient water supply,have a fixed functional telephone line
   • have safe cooking appliances, electric outlets and sockets out of children’s reach,
   • have adequate space per child, play areas, soft flooring and should not affect children’s safety,
   • make provision for cots for babies and child-sized furniture,
   • ensure that outdoor play areas present no harm (e.g. fencing, cutting of grass etc.) for children to play.

   
   

9. Family and Community Engagement
   Childminders should have positive relationships with the children’s families and the overall community by:
   • welcoming families when they bring or collect children,
   • allowing parents to enter the establishment and respectfully discuss issues concerning their children,
   • communicating regularly with parents about progress, activities and development of the children,
   • participating and making use of relevant district-based resources (e.g. Kids Gathering Initiative, Baby Gym),
   • interacting and working in close partnership with district officials (e.g. District Administrator, Community Nurses, Social Workers, Police Officers etc..)

   
   

10. Administration
    Childminders should practice sound administrative practices by:
    • maintaining written background information and medical records on each child,
    • keeping activity and progress logs,
    • maintaining background and training information on staff,
    • documenting revenues and expenses,
    • having an agreement with parents with the agreed fees, services among others,
    • displaying registration certificate in a visible and accessible area,
    • registering and complying to regulations, and subjecting to inspection at least every six months.

For the effective implementation of the National Standards, Childminders and Assistants should work in close collaboration with parents and other stakeholders in Early Childhood Care and Education.