Quality Standards
All NCMA childcarer members
work towards the following Quality Standards. These cover all
aspects of home-based childcare, including safety, nutrition,
managing children's behaviour, equal opportunities and good
business practice.
1. Take a professional approach
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- comply with the requirements of their membership and, if
necessary, are registered or approved have suitable insurance
cover
- undertake relevant training where possible
- keep up to date with relevant regulations and legislation.
2. Manage children's behaviour
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- 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 understanding.
3. Promote equality of opportunity
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- 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 impairment
- 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 and nannies:
- do not share information about children and families without
the permission of the family
- only break this rule in the interests of protecting a child,
when they seek advice from appropriate professionals.
5. Promote children's learning and development
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- 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, pre-school
and school
- keep parents informed about their child's progress.
6. Work in partnership with parents
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- 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
- discuss and 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
- nanny members agree to advise parents of any changes in their
circumstances related to their work.
7. Keep children safe
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- ensure a smoke-free environment while they are caring for
children and nanny members agree not to smoke while working with
children
- pay careful attention to safety and hygiene
- make detailed plans of what to do in an emergency
- are aware of signs and symptoms of possible abuse and know what
to do if they suspect a child is being abused
- undertake regular risk assessments (nannies and over-7s
childminders only).
8. Know about nutrition
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- discuss children's dietary needs with parents
- provide children with a healthy, balanced diet
- nanny members agree to encourage children to choose a healthy
and balanced diet.
9. Have good business practices
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- 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
- nanny members agree to maintain a record of child-related
expenditure.
10. Seek support
NCMA childminders and nannies:
- seek advice from other professionals when necessary
- take advantage of the opportunities for mutual support provided
by NCMA and local childminding groups.
