All people working with children are governed by legislation that is in place to protect your children and the child care provider. In this document I have listed four important legislations that are of particular importance to home based child care providers and noted how I aim to incorporate them into my practice. Child care practitioners also have a regulatory body; in England it is Ofsted. This document gives you a brief description of their supervisory role in child care settings. However, the list of legislation is not comprehensive and nor is the short description of Ofsted’s Role, if you would like more information or would like to discuss anything written in this leaflet, please ask and I would be happy to provide you as a parent with more details.
Children’s Act 1989 & 2004
The first time Children’s rights were recognised under UK Law was in the Children’s Act 1989, which summarised, means ‘the needs of the child are paramount’ (Riddall-Leech 2010 p18). Later, in 2004, the Every Child Matters agenda was born. This is the primary legislative Act that all childcare practitioners must observe. It outlines five conclusions that all children should meet. These are – Be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being.
My childcare practice is committed to achieving all the outcomes of the every child matters charter by: -
Be healthy
By serving homemade healthy balanced meals and snacks.
Providing daily opportunities for physical activity both indoors and outside.
Ensuring a smoke free environment.
Stay safe
Everyone who frequently visits the setting including myself and my assistant have enhanced disclosures.
There is a zero tolerance of bullying and all children are helped to understand their behaviour if they cause upset or bullying to another child.
Enjoy and achieve
By providing ample opportunities
Bibliography: Riddall-Leech, S (2013) Home-based Childcare For childminders and nannies. Essex: Pearson Education Limited Information Commissioner’s Office (2012) Introduction to The Data Protection Act 1998. [Online] Available from: http://www.ico.org.uk/~/media/documents/library/Corporate/Research_and_reports/ico_presentation_EVOC_20120528.ashx [Accessed: 11th October 2013] Government Equalities Office (2013) Equalities Act 2010: Guidance. [Online] Available from: https://www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance [Accessed: 11th October 2013] Parliament UK (2010) The Role and Performance of Ofsted : Memorandum submitted by National Childminding Association. [Online] Available from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmeduc/writev/ofsted/45.htm [Accessed 11th October 2011] Great Britain. Department for Education. (2012) Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Cheshire: The Department for Education