Ofsted have clarified that there are 2 different types of students - work experience students and students who work for childminders as assistants... and that Ofsted expectations are different depending on the type of student in your provision.
Work experience students
In order to have a work experience student with you whilst you provide childcare, you will need to ensure that you continue to meet the legal requirements for registration on the early years and/or childcare register at all times.
Students on short-term placements or who are under the age of 17 cannot act as an assistant or be left unsupervised with children at any time where you are providing care on the early years’ register. Only those aged 17 or over may be included in ratios (and staff under 17 should be supervised at all times).
Students on long term placements and volunteers (aged 17 or over) may be included if the provider is satisfied that they are competent and responsible.
On the Childcare Register, students must be supervised at all times unless you can satisfy Ofsted that they have the necessary skills and experience to act as an assistant. They cannot be left unsupervised in any circumstances unless they are 18 and over.
When taking on a work-experience student you should consider how it might affect other requirements for registration. In particular, you should think about:
· Your arrangements for ensuring students do not have unsupervised access to children unless they are found suitable by Ofsted
· Ensuring students who you might wish to use as assistants because they are old enough and competent enough to do so are checked by Ofsted
· How you will continue to meet the needs of children whilst the student is present and under your supervision
· Contacting your insurance provider to ensure that you are covered when a work experience student is on site
· Informing parents of minded children, and seeking their feedback.
Where four or more people work together to provide childcare on domestic premises, this is no longer counted as childminding but as childcare on domestic premises – Ofsted ref 080142 -
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-childcare-domestic-premises
Students on work placements that are not acting as your assistant do not count towards the total number of people working with you to provide care; they can be excluded from consideration when deciding if registration as childcare on domestic premises is needed.
Students as assistants
For when an individual is recognised as an assistant, they are there for with primary intention to assist the provider not to learn from them, the following applies if you choose to have an assistant working with you:
· You must notify Ofsted using an EY2: Declaration and Consent Form
· They must undergo the relevant suitability checks by Ofsted.
Your assistant can submit an EY2 form via the Ofsted Online website.
The Early Years Foundation Stage sets out the requirements that all providers must meet. The following make particular reference to childminding assistants:
· 3.23 Childminders are accountable for the quality of the work of any assistants, and must be satisfied that assistants are competent in the areas of work they undertake.
· 3.24 At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premises at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. First aid training must be local authority approved and be relevant for workers caring for young children. Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a current paediatric first aid certificate.
· 3.41 If a childminder employs an assistant or works with another childminder, each childminder (or assistant) may care for the number of children permitted by the ratios specified above. Children may be left in the sole care of childminders’ assistants for 2 hours at most in a single day. Childminders must obtain parents and/or carers’ permission to leave children with an assistant, including for very short periods of time. For childminders providing overnight care, the ratios continue to apply and the childminder must always be able to hear the children (this may be via a monitor).
I hope this has been helpful to you. However should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards
Ofsted - Applications, Regulatory and Contact team
Telephone: 0300 123 1231
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
Ofsted on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ofstednews
Work experience students
In order to have a work experience student with you whilst you provide childcare, you will need to ensure that you continue to meet the legal requirements for registration on the early years and/or childcare register at all times.
Students on short-term placements or who are under the age of 17 cannot act as an assistant or be left unsupervised with children at any time where you are providing care on the early years’ register. Only those aged 17 or over may be included in ratios (and staff under 17 should be supervised at all times).
Students on long term placements and volunteers (aged 17 or over) may be included if the provider is satisfied that they are competent and responsible.
On the Childcare Register, students must be supervised at all times unless you can satisfy Ofsted that they have the necessary skills and experience to act as an assistant. They cannot be left unsupervised in any circumstances unless they are 18 and over.
When taking on a work-experience student you should consider how it might affect other requirements for registration. In particular, you should think about:
· Your arrangements for ensuring students do not have unsupervised access to children unless they are found suitable by Ofsted
· Ensuring students who you might wish to use as assistants because they are old enough and competent enough to do so are checked by Ofsted
· How you will continue to meet the needs of children whilst the student is present and under your supervision
· Contacting your insurance provider to ensure that you are covered when a work experience student is on site
· Informing parents of minded children, and seeking their feedback.
Where four or more people work together to provide childcare on domestic premises, this is no longer counted as childminding but as childcare on domestic premises – Ofsted ref 080142 -
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-childcare-domestic-premises
Students on work placements that are not acting as your assistant do not count towards the total number of people working with you to provide care; they can be excluded from consideration when deciding if registration as childcare on domestic premises is needed.
Students as assistants
For when an individual is recognised as an assistant, they are there for with primary intention to assist the provider not to learn from them, the following applies if you choose to have an assistant working with you:
· You must notify Ofsted using an EY2: Declaration and Consent Form
· They must undergo the relevant suitability checks by Ofsted.
Your assistant can submit an EY2 form via the Ofsted Online website.
The Early Years Foundation Stage sets out the requirements that all providers must meet. The following make particular reference to childminding assistants:
· 3.23 Childminders are accountable for the quality of the work of any assistants, and must be satisfied that assistants are competent in the areas of work they undertake.
· 3.24 At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premises at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. First aid training must be local authority approved and be relevant for workers caring for young children. Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a current paediatric first aid certificate.
· 3.41 If a childminder employs an assistant or works with another childminder, each childminder (or assistant) may care for the number of children permitted by the ratios specified above. Children may be left in the sole care of childminders’ assistants for 2 hours at most in a single day. Childminders must obtain parents and/or carers’ permission to leave children with an assistant, including for very short periods of time. For childminders providing overnight care, the ratios continue to apply and the childminder must always be able to hear the children (this may be via a monitor).
I hope this has been helpful to you. However should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards
Ofsted - Applications, Regulatory and Contact team
Telephone: 0300 123 1231
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
Ofsted on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ofstednews