Childminder Agency Compliance Check  	
		
Description	
1.   Introduction:
The Local Authority (LA) has overarching responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people in their area. We have a number of statutory functions under the 1989 and 2004 Children Acts which make this clear. This responsibility is outlined in the Governments document Working Together to Safeguard Children.
There are a number of legal and statutory requirements for which Ofsted are not the regulatory body, or do not have overarching responsibility, however childcare providers MUST comply with these requirements by law or the terms of the FEEE contract. Waltham Forest Council will only issue a contract to Ofsted registered childcare providers to deliver the Governments free early education and childcare scheme (known as the free early education entitlement in Waltham Forest) who have satisfactorily completed this Compliance Check. No payments will be made to the provider until the Compliance Check have been satisfactorily completed. Retrospective payments are not made under any circumstances.

Section 9 of the Childcare Act gives local authorities the power to attach requirements to the arrangements they make with providers (other than the governing body of a maintained school) to deliver childcare including free early years provision.
The LA do not commission providers to deliver Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) Places to eligible children, unless they can demonstrate that they have an understanding of and comply with key elements of Health and Safety, Employment, Safeguarding and Financial statutory / legal requirements.

2.   FEEE Contract Compliance Check
This compliance check is directly linked to the ‘EYSFF Payment Terms and Conditions 2024-27: relating to provision of FEEE places to under 2’s, 2, 3 & 4 year olds’ which all FEEE providers in Waltham Forest must sign in order to receive funding. Within these T&Cs it outlines the expectations regarding Delivering free childcare places, Employment Law, Finance and Data Protection. The aim of this compliance check is to:
•	Work in partnership with the childcare provider to establish whether their assessment of their compliance with the requirements within it are in line with the LA’s
•	Empower childcare providers to understand and comply with their key/statutory requirements in order to inform their service / development / action plans and improve the quality and safety of their provision
•	Enable the childcare provider to take appropriate action to reduce the risk of them failing to keep children safe;
•	Identify where there are non-compliance issues and provide recommendations / information to enable the childcare provider to meet their legal / statutory requirements;
•	Allow the LA to establish where there are common areas of development or where support, advice and training is required which will inform Early Years strategic planning;
•	Make the requirements the LA places on providers in relation to keeping children safe clear to avoid the need to refuse to fund providers who are unable to meet these requirements;
•	To give an overview / snapshot of compliance with key statutory requirements at the time of the health check being undertaken.

Please note: The statements contained in this report are prepared solely for the purpose of meeting the local authority’s statutory duty to secure the provision of information, advice and training to childcare providers and childcare workers, in order for them to understand and comply with their statutory and local authority contractual requirements. It is a reasonable attempt to identify any obvious or significant areas of non-compliance apparent across the areas covered by the compliance checks at the time of the assessment. It should not be solely relied on to establish compliance across all areas. It remains the owner's / Ofsted registered person / organisation’s sole responsibility to comply with all of the legal and statutory requirements associated with running their childcare business. Must Audit are available to assist you in carrying out a self-evaluation and establish whether you are compliant across all statutory requirements.  
Each item within the FEEE Contract Compliance Check will be rated in the following way:
•	FEEE Contract Compliance Check completed to the required standards
•	A small number of items in low / medium risk areas incomplete
•	A significant number of items in low / medium risk areas or one or more items in high-risk areas incomplete

3.   Preparation for the FEEE Contract Compliance Check
In preparation, you will need to have:
a)   Completed the FEEE Contract Compliance Check in the following pages and have identified evidence;
b)   Returned this, by email to FEEEprovision@walthamforest.gov.uk;
c)   The assessor will undertake a desktop assessment, and may request additional information.	

	PART 1 – CHILDMINDER AGENCY DETAILS

Category	1 Key Contacts / Information for Childminder Agency	
Question	1.1 Childminder Agency (as per Ofsted/DfE registration)	
Help Text	Please provide: ﻿
1.	Name
2.	Ofsted/DfE registration number
3.	Current Ofsted grade and date of last inspection.
4.	Ages and Number of children registered (as per Ofsted/DfE registration)	
Response	
Question	1.2 Company Registration Number	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
Please provide your company registration number. If you are a Sole Trader, please tick the 'not applicable' option and provide a redacted copy of your HMRC self-assessment return to confirm your legal business status.	
Help Text	Additional information relating to your company and taxable status can be found on the Companies House and Self-Assessment websites.	
Response	
Question	1.3 Names of Directors	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
Please provide names of all people listed as company directors.	
Help Text	Additional information relating to your company status can be found on the Companies House website.	
Response	
Question	1.4 Charity Number (if applicable)	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
Please provide your Charities Commission registration number. If you are a Sole Trader or a company (not also registered as a charity) please tick the 'not applicable' option.	
Help Text	Additional information relating to your company’s status as a charity (if applicable) can be found on the Charities Commission website
Important information about Trustees status, including legal and financial responsibilities can be found here	
Response	
Question	1.5 Names of Trustees (if applicable)	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
Please provide names of all people listed as trustees.	
Help Text	Additional information is available on the Charities Commission website.	
Response	
Question	1.6 Name of Registered person/s or organisation (as registered with Ofsted)	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Ofsted registration requirements - Registration allows an individual or organisation to provide care for children. It is Ofsted’s responsibility to ensure that only those who are suitable and ready to provide childcare are registered. If Ofsted has concerns about an applicant’s suitability, registration will be refused unless those concerns have been resolved to Ofsted’s satisfaction. It is an offence to knowingly make a false or misleading statement in an application to register.
Ofsted registration requirements: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childminder-agencies-registration-and-suitability/childminder-agencies-registration-and-suitability
 	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.7 Name of Nominated person*:(as registered with Ofsted)	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Ofsted registration requirements - Where the registered person is an organisation, it must appoint a ‘’ who will be responsible for all matters relating to the registration and who will act on behalf of the organisation in its dealings with Ofsted. The nominated individual must be a member of the organisation’s governing body. This person cannot be the appointed manager, unless the manager is also a member of the governing body
Ofsted registration requirements: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childminder-agencies-registration-and-suitability/childminder-agencies-registration-and-suitability
	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.8 Operational Manager/EYFS lead name (delete as applicable)	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.44 - In settings, the manager must hold an approved level 3 qualification and at least half of all other staff must hold at least an approved level 2 qualification. The manager should have at least two years’ experience of working in an early years setting or have at least two years’ other suitable experience. The provider must ensure there is a named deputy who, in their judgement, is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager’s absence.
You can check early years qualifications here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.9 Operational Deputy’s Name	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS Section 3. 44 - In settings, the manager must hold an approved level 3 qualification and at least half of all other staff must hold at least an approved level 2 qualification. The manager should have at least two years’ experience of working in an early years setting or have at least two years’ other suitable experience. The provider must ensure there is a named deputy who, in their judgement, is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager’s absence.
You can check early years qualifications here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.10 Who has overall and final responsibility for Health and Safety	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.79 - Providers must ensure that their premises, including overall floor space and outdoor spaces, are fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for and the activities provided on the premises. Providers must comply with requirements of health and safety legislation (including fire safety and hygiene requirements).
EYFS, Section 3.80 - Providers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the premises in the case of fire or any other emergency and must have an emergency evacuation procedure. Providers must have appropriate fire detection and control equipment (for example, fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire blankets and/or fire extinguishers) which is in working order. Fire exits must be clearly identifiable, and fire doors must be free of obstruction and easily opened from the inside.
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
Guidance on risk assessments, including where written ones may be required where five or more staff are employed, can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive  https://www.hse.gov.uk/
	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.11 Who has day-to-day responsibility for ensuring the Health & Safety policy is put into practice	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.33 - What practitioners know, plan for, and do matters for children’s learning, development, safety, and happiness in settings. Providers must ensure that all staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Induction training must include information about emergency evacuation procedures, safeguarding, child protection, and health and safety issues. Providers must support staff to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities to ensure they offer quality learning and development experiences for children that continually improves.
EYFS, Section 3.79 - Providers must ensure that their premises, including overall floor space and outdoor spaces, are fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for and the activities provided on the premises. Providers must comply with requirements of health and safety legislation (including fire safety and hygiene requirements).
EYFS, Section 3.80 - Providers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the premises in the case of fire or any other emergency and must have an emergency evacuation procedure. Providers must have appropriate fire detection and control equipment (for example, fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire blankets and/or fire extinguishers) which is in working order. Fire exits must be clearly identifiable, and fire doors must be free of obstruction and easily opened from the inside.
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
Guidance on risk assessments, including where written ones may be required where five or more staff are employed, can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive  https://www.hse.gov.uk/   
	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.12 Who is the Named Health & Safety Competent person	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.79 - Providers must ensure that their premises, including overall floor space and outdoor spaces, are fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for and the activities provided on the premises. Providers must comply with requirements of health and safety legislation (including fire safety and hygiene requirements).
EYFS, Section 3.80 - Providers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the premises in the case of fire or any other emergency and must have an emergency evacuation procedure. Providers must have appropriate fire detection and control equipment (for example, fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire blankets and/or fire extinguishers) which is in working order. Fire exits must be clearly identifiable, and fire doors must be free of obstruction and easily opened from the inside.
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
Guidance on risk assessments, including where written ones may be required where five or more staff are employed, can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive  https://www.hse.gov.uk/	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email
5.	Copy of training and qualification	
Response	
Question	1.13 Who has overall and final responsibility for recruiting/employing staff	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Ofsted Registration Requirements - Registered childcare providers on non-domestic premises are responsible for determining that the staff they employ, and others who live or work on the premises where childcare takes place, are suitable. 
Safer recruitment information and guidance is available on The Hub
Ofsted Registration Requirements: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-on-the-compulsory-childcare-register-ofsted-requirements#checking-suitability
Keeping children safe in education: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 
Staffing and employment advice for schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staffing-and-employment-advice-for-schools	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.14 Who has day-to-day responsibility for ensuring the recruitment policy is put into practice	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Ofsted Registration Requirements - Registered childcare providers on non-domestic premises are responsible for determining that the staff they employ, and others who live or work on the premises where childcare takes place, are suitable. 
Safer recruitment information and guidance is available on The Hub
Ofsted Registration Requirements: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-on-the-compulsory-childcare-register-ofsted-requirements#checking-suitability
Keeping children safe in education https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 
Staffing and employment advice for schools https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staffing-and-employment-advice-for-schools	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email
5.	Safer recruitment training certificate	
Response	
Question	1.15 Who has overall and final responsibility for Finance	
Description	
Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
Finance information and guidance is available on The Hub - https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/early-years-funding
	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Question	1.16 Who has day-to-day responsibility for ensuring the finance policy is put into practice	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
Finance information and guidance is available on The Hub - https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/early-years-funding	
Help Text	Please provide:
1.	Name
2.	Role
3.	Contact Number
4.	Contact email	
Response	
Category	2 Delivering the Free entitlement	
Question	2.1 Is the entitlement provided completely free of charge at the point of delivery? Are you (or your childminder, if they are responsible to raise the invoices) completely transparent about any additional charges, for example, for those parents opting to purchase additional hours or additional services?	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Early years entitlements: operational guidance 2025-2026 - Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that all eligible children can take up their free entitlement place free of charge and that providers’ charging policies enable this. 
Early years entitlements: operational guidance link: Early years entitlements: local authority funding operational guide 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK
	
Help Text	No registration fee or requirement on parents to purchase extras - uniforms, snacks, lunches, additional hours etc. 
Useful documents to provide to assessor

1.	Fees and Charges policy/information
2.	Parent Contract and T&Cs 3. 
3.	Parental Declaration forms or Parent Invoices

﻿Guidance can be found here: https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/early-years-financial-regulations	
Response.	
Question	2.2 Do you (or your childminder, if they are responsible to raise the invoices) charge any ‘Top up Fees’? 	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Early education and childcare statutory guidance - Work with providers and parents to ensure all parents, including disadvantaged families, have fair access to a free place, which must be delivered completely free of charge. Ensure that providers do not:
• charge parents "top-up" fees (the difference between a provider’s usual fee and the funding they receive from the local authority to deliver free places).
• require parents to pay a registration fee as a condition of taking up their child’s free place.
Early education and childcare, statutory guidance - Work with providers to ensure that, if providers charge parents a deposit to secure their child’s free place, the deposit is refunded in full to parents within a reasonable time scale.
Early education and childcare, statutory guidance link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2/early-education-and-childcare-effective-from-1-april-2025	
Help Text	A deposit can be charged but should refunded in full to parents within a reasonable time scale (recommended that any deposit paid is returned within one term)
Clear information must be provided to parents on prices of chargeable hours and optional extras. 
Provider can charge for extras for children taking up additional hours and the LA would not get involved in this arrangement. 	
Response	
Question	2.3 Are parents provided with invoices and receipts which are clear, transparent and itemised allowing parents to see that they have received their child’s free entitlement completely free of charge?	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Early education and childcare, statutory guidance - Work with providers to ensure their invoices and receipts are clear, transparent and itemised allowing parents to see that they have received their child’s free entitlement completely free of charge and understand fees paid for additional hours or services. Invoices and receipts should include the provider’s full details so that they can be identified as coming from a specific provider. Invoices and receipts should include the provider’s full details so that they can be identified as coming from a specific provider.
Early education and childcare, statutory guidance link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2/early-education-and-childcare-effective-from-1-april-2025
	
Help Text	Invoices for additional hours should also indicate the FEEE hours accessed and the fees for the additional hours accessed. This information must be contained within the parental declaration form.

We recommend you do not include FEEE as a monetary value, ‘grant’, or as a reduction from total fees. We recommend you include the FEEE as a number of free hours. 
Waltham Forest Council Financial Guidance for FEEE providers and sample invoice to use as a template here: https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/early-years-financial-regulations	
Response	
Category	2.4 Flexibility	
Question	2.4.1 How long is each session? Do you offer flexible provision to meet parents’ needs? 	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Early education and childcare, statutory guidance - Local authorities should encourage providers to deliver flexible packages of free hours within the parameters set out in the statutory guidance, these are
• no session to be longer than 10 hours
• no minimum session length
• not before 6.00am or after 8.00pm
• sessions can take place on any day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday
• a maximum of two sites in a single day
• meet the quality requirements as set out in regulations and in the statutory guidance
• no artificial breaks 	
Help Text	Flexible patterns of provision where possible. Choice of days/times available clearly laid out. Please provide:
1. Details of operational opening times
2. Parents’ Information pack

Children are able to take up their full entitlement to a free place at times that best support their learning and development, and at times which fit with the needs of parents to enable them to work or increase their hours of work if they wish to do so.
 
Early education and childcare, statutory guidance link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2/early-education-and-childcare-effective-from-1-april-2025
LBWF Fees and charges policy prompt document/information can be accessed on the hub Waltham Forest Council Financial Guidance for FEEE providers at the following link: https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/ey-childcare-policies-procedures-templates	
Response	
Category	2.5 Parental Contracts	
Question	2.5.1 Do you have a clear process for checking and recording a child’s eligibility?	
Help Text	•	Proof of legal name & DOB taken from child’s birth certificate or passport
•	Check child’s start date is the term after the eligible birthday.
•	If 2-year-old code or EYPP, or 30 hours code, validate codes on the EYP Hub
•	Eligibility number recorded on parental declaration form and/or EYP Hub	
Response	
Question	2.5.2 Will every child have a signed parental declaration form? 	
Help Text	LBWF provide a template of a recommended parental declaration form which is downloadable from The Hub 
Parents are responsible for ensuring that they do not claim more than the 570/1140 hours they are entitled to under the FEEE provision across two different Providers, including maintained and independent schools. Where duplicate payments are claimed by the Parent, the Provider involved will be asked to produce a signed parental declaration form and a copy of attendance registers. 

Where the Provider is unable to provide this, the Provider will be responsible for claiming payments from the Parent. Where signed parental declaration forms exist at both settings, the Council will be responsible for recovering the payments from the Parent. 
Please provide redacted samples of completed parental declaration forms.

Please download a current parent declaration form and provide completed dummy examples according to the following two scenarios:    
https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/early-years-financial-guidance

1)	You have a two-year-old child in your setting who is eligible for 15 hours of funding.  He attends your setting 3 days a week, 8am to 2pm, all year round. He does not attend any other childcare settings.  The parents provide a packed lunch for him and give him breakfast at home, so do not purchase any additional services from you.

2)	You have a 3-year-old child in your setting who is eligible for 30 hours funding.  He is with you 4 days a week, 7.45am to 6pm, all year round. Parents provide all the meals, but you provide morning and afternoon snacks, for which you charge 40p per day	
Response	
Question	2.5.3 Will you (or your childminder) complete a new parental declaration when the child’s attendance pattern changes? 	
Help Text	Any permanent change in hours taken requires a new parental declaration form to be completed.	
Response	
Category	3 Staffing	
Question	3.1 How do you ensure that you follow employment law, good practice & safer recruitment in Staff employment? Do you have effective systems in place to ensure that the childminder & any other person who is likely to have regular contact with children are suitable?	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.13 - Providers must ensure that people looking after children are suitable; they must have the relevant qualifications, training and have passed any required checks to fulfil their roles. Providers must take appropriate steps to verify qualifications, including in cases where physical evidence cannot be produced. Providers must also ensure that any person who may have regular contact with children (for example, someone living or working on the same premises the early years provision is provided), is suitable.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for childcare providers who register with Ofsted (2024), Section 'Introduction' - The factsheet sets out Ofsted's position on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for childcare providers who register with Ofsted and those associated with them, such as people who live in a house where childcare takes place.  Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks: childcare providers                	
Help Text	Staffing guidance can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
Ofsted statutory guidance Keeping children safe in education provides further information link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
A model workplace assessment is available from ACAS 
We recommend that you register for the model workplace assessment and complete every module
ACAS information on Written Statement (Contract)- terms and conditions of employment can be found https://www.acas.org.uk
Additional Guidance

•	ACAS General HR guidance website at the following link: https://www.acas.org.uk/NewtoHR
•	Consider registering to receive the ACAS newsletter to keep up to date with employment requirements
•	Register for PAYE for staff you employ
•	Provide staff with a payslip
•	Keep required payroll records 

Please provide: Copy of safer recruitment policy 	
Response	
Question	3.2 Have you enrolled your eligible staff into a workplace pension scheme?	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
As a result of automatic enrolment, millions of employees now have the opportunity to start building savings for their retirement.
Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer in the UK must put their qualifying employees into a pension scheme and, where appropriate, pay contributions. This is called ‘automatic enrolment’.
If you employ at least one person you are an employer and you have certain legal duties. Get to know how automatic enrolment applies to you by visiting The Pensions Regulator employers’ pages at the following link: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/employers	
Help Text	Pensions Regulator information on what your legal duties are under the Pensions Act 2008. 
Guidance to setting up and enrolling staff into a workplace pension

•	Workplace Pensions
•	Enrol your staff into a workplace pension
•	Pension scheme administration	
Response	
Category	3.3 Suitable People	
Question	3.3.1 Do you tell Childminders that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children.	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.17 - Providers must tell staff that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings that may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting). Providers must not allow anyone whose suitability has not been checked, including through a criminal records check, to have unsupervised contact with children being cared for. 	
Help Text	Please provide
1.	Copy of blank staff declaration form and/or staff supervision template where this information is obtained/recorded	
Response	
Question	3.3.2 Do you record information about childminder qualifications and the identity checks, and vetting processes (including DBS reference number, the date a disclosure was obtained and details of who obtained it). 	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 1.19 - All children deserve high quality early education and care. This requires a quality workforce. A well-trained, skilled team of practitioners can help every child achieve the best possible educational outcomes.
EYFS, Section 3.18 - Providers must record information about staff qualifications and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed (including the criminal records check reference number, the date a check was obtained and details of who obtained it). 
EYFS, Section 3.33 - What practitioners know, plan for, and do matters for children’s learning, development, safety, and happiness in settings. Providers must ensure that all staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Induction training must include information about emergency evacuation procedures, safeguarding, child protection, and health and safety issues. Providers must support staff to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities to ensure they offer quality learning and development experiences for children that continually improves.    
EYFS, Section 3.44 - In settings, the manager must hold at least an approved level 3 qualification and at least half of all other staff must hold at least an approved level 2 qualification. The manager should have at least two years’ experience of working in an early years setting or have at least two years’ other suitable experience. The provider must ensure there is a named deputy who, in their judgement, is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager’s absence.
	
Help Text	Information for applicant
1.	Blank copy of childminder file checklist, or similar that would record this information
2.	Copies of childminder members qualification certificates 
3.	Copy of single central record and confirmation that your agency is registered with an online DBS checking service

You can check early years qualification at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder
and the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2	
Response	
Category	4 Data management and record keeping	
Question	4.1 Do you ensure that you adhere to your duty to keep personal data secure and confidential? Do you have an updated and current Privacy Policy?	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement:
Are you aware of the requirements of the GDPR?
Has this been updated to include the requirements of GDPR?	
Help Text	Providers must be aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 2018. If they are a public body, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies.

Data protection rules for businesses using CCTV link: https://www.gov.uk/data-protection-your-business/using-cctv
Data protection rules for businesses in recruiting staff, keeping staff records link: https://www.gov.uk/data-protection-your-business/recruitment-managing-staff-records
	
Response	
Question	4.2 Do you retain your records for the relevant amount of time?	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement:
Please state your arrangements for archiving	
Help Text	Retention of people records is an extremely complex and constantly changing area. Organisations following good practice should have a document retention policy and monitoring programme that’s communicated to all staff. They should also follow both physical and electronic data security methods. The policy should ensure that records are kept as long as needed but no longer, and that records are destroyed securely. Such programmes may involve training not only about the legal issues involved, but also why having organised records benefits the business.
Advice & Guidance on record retention link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-records-management-and-retention-and-disposal-policy/records-management-and-retention-and-disposal-policy
The HMRC and NSPCC provide guidance on data retention. The CIPD provide guidance, including checklists relating to record retention (free registration to the CIPD website is required) Links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-records-management-and-retention-and-disposal-policy
https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/people/hr/keeping-records-factsheet	
Response	
Question	4.3 Are you registered with the ICO if necessary?	
Help Text	Data protection self-assessment link: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-self-assessment/
Notify ICO if necessary	
Response	
Question	4.4 Do you have an updated and current Privacy Policy?	
Help Text	This should be clear and easy to understand.
You must include: 

•	who you are
•	why you process information 
•	what you use it for
•	your legal basis for processing it
•	notice of the individual’s rights to make a complaint to ICO

Guide to Data Protection: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/	
Response	
Question	4.5 Do you have an updated and current Data Protection Policy	
Description	Has this been updated to include the requirements on GDPR?	
Help Text	Guide to Data Protection: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/	
Response	
Question	4.6 Do you seek, record and manage consent to store data? 	
Description	These should meet the GDPR requirements on being specific, documented and easily withdrawn. You must not assume consent. If you previously stated “if you don’t respond we will assume we can publish your data” this is no longer allowed under the GDPR	
Help Text	You must seek consent prior to sending marketing and promotional material. 
Guide to Data Protection: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/	
Response	
Category	5 Insurance	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
EYFS, Section 3.88 - Providers must carry the appropriate insurance (e.g. public liability insurance) to cover all premises from which they provide childcare. 
Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement

•	Public Liability 
•	Employers Liability 
•	Professional Indemnity Cover 	
Help Text	Meet requirements for Insurance liability	
Question	5.1 Have you got a valid Public Liability in place? If yes, please provide the level of cover and a copy of the certificate	
Description	As a requirement for the Council Free Early Education Contract with the LA, you are required to have adequate Public Liability insurance in place.	
Help Text	Meet requirements for public liability	
Response	
Question	5.2 Have you got a valid Employers Liability in place? If yes, please provide the level of cover and a copy of the certificate	
Description	As a requirement for the Council Free Early Education Contract with the LA, you are required to have adequate Employers Liability insurance in place.	
Help Text	Meet requirements for employers’ liability	
Response	
Question	5.3 Have you got a valid Professional Indemnity Cover in place? If yes, please provide the level of cover and a copy of the certificate	
Description	As a requirement for the Council Free Early Education Contract with the LA, you are required to have adequate Professional Indemnity Cover in place.	
Help Text	Meet requirements for Professional Indemnity	
Response	
Category	6 Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF) Payment	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement

It cannot be used to:
Make payments to members of governing body, if a maintained school or trustees if it’s a charity  
Purchase building or land
Pay for any commitment entered into before commencement date	
Help Text	Payments are made monthly	
Question	6.1 Do you have a business bank account in the name of the registered person/organisation?	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement
The FEEE Payment shall be paid into a separate bank account in the name of the Provider which must be an ordinary business bank account. 	
Help Text	Documents to provide to assessor (information required are name, address, bank account number and sort code. Please redact all other information)
1.	Bank account statements for previous accounting period (for existing companies/charity)
2.	Bank account details for new providers
	
Response	
Question	6.2 Do you ensure you keep accurate and up-to-date accounts and records of the receipt and expenditure of the FEEE Budget Share Payment monies received?	
Description	Council Free Early Education Contractual Requirement:
The Provider shall keep all invoices, receipts, and accounts and any other relevant documents relating to the expenditure of the EYSFF Payment for a period of at least seven years following receipt of any EYSFF Payment monies to which they relate. 	
Help Text	Documents to provide to assessor:
1.	Bank account statements for previous accounting period (or a specific period at the request of the assessor)
2.	Audited accounts (if applicable for existing companies/charities)	
Response	
Category	7 Accounts and records	
Question	7.1 Are you aware of the accounting/financial information you must comply with in line with the LBWF FEEE financial guidance?	
Help Text	LBWF FEEE Financial Guidance link: https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/early-years-financial-regulations

This includes populating the Pupil Register, census data, parental declarations and invoices. 	
Response	
Question	7.2 Is the information about Managing Directors, Trustees or Sole Traders up to date with the relevant regulatory body?	
Help Text	Information to provide to assessor: 
1.	Company Information
2.	Charity Commission Information
3.	Provide link to relevant area of website
4.	Most recent communication with HMRC re self-assessment registration (for sole traders only)	
Response	
Question	7.3 Are you up to date with your Charity Commission, Companies House or Self-Assessment tax returns? *For Existing companies/charities ONLY 	
Help Text	Information to provide to assessor: 
1.	Company Information
2.	Charity Commission Information
3.	Provide link to relevant area of website
4.	Most recent communication with HMRC re self-assessment registration (for sole traders only)	
Response	
Question	7.4 Will you inform Ofsted and the Council when there are any changes to Managing Directors and/or Trustees, ownership or premises?	
Description	What is the Statutory Requirement:
Ofsted’s guidance to notifying changes to individuals - We need to know about changes to names, addresses and any start or leave dates for all individuals making up an organisation whose sole purpose is to provide early years childcare, including committee members, partners, directors and anyone who works with four or more other people on domestic premises	
Help Text	Please refer to Ofsted’s guidance to reporting changes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-changes-to-registered-people-in-your-nursery-or-other-daycare-ey3
	
Response	

	PART 2 – INDIVIDUAL CHILDMINDERS DETAILS

Category	1 Individual Childminder's details	
Description	In order to start the FEEE contractual process we require some basic information about the individual childminder.	
Question	1.1 Childminders Name and Address	
Description	Please provide childminders full name

Please provide childminders full address

Response	Name:

Address:	
Question	1.2 Childminder's Agency Registration Details	
Description	Please provide the individuals Childminder Agency registration number and date of registration with the agency. 	
Response	Registration Number:

Registration Date:

Last date of quality assurance carried out by the Agency:
	
Question	1.3 Do you intend to provide childcare from any premises other than your primary domestic registered premises?	
Description	From the 1st November 2024, The Department for Education introduced changes to give the early years sector (in particular childminders) more flexibility. These changes will see a new type of childminder introduced and give existing childminders and childcare on domestic premises providers more scope in terms of where they spend their time and base their childcare. The information can be found here: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/10/new-flexibilities-for-childminders/ 

planning permission information
If you wish to set up a new Ofsted registered childminding service from a domestic/non-domestic property or expand an existing childminder provision, in some cases, you may need to submit a “Change of Use” planning application to ensure your premises has the correct “Planning Use” category to be able to operate the childminding service from there. There are specific planning use classes that allow you to operate a childcare service from your home. Generally, if it is just you looking after children in part of your home, you will not require a change of use application, however, if you take on staff, therefore increasing the number of children at your home and in effect using more of your home for childcare, you must contact the LA's Planning department to check. For further guidance, read information here: https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/childminderpremiseshealthsafety#planning
It should be noted that nursery type operational uses are not promoted in residential areas where the use can have negative impact on general character of the area and cause undue nuisance in terms general noise and activity. 

Response	Yes/No
If Yes, Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder has contacted the LA’s Planning department to check if planning permission is required, and the Agency has seen evidence of a copy of planning approval if applicable
	
Question	1.3 If Yes, please provide a copy of the Ofsted registration certificate which details the Ofsted approved address	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the childminder’s registration certificate, with details of the approved address	
Category	2 Business Compliance	
Description	This section is all about how you meet requirements relating to the individual childminders business. 	
Question	2.1 Employment Status	
Description	Most childminders are seen as self-employed for tax purposes and need to be registered with HMRC (Her Majesties Revenue and Customs) to ensure they pay the correct tax and national insurance.

Link to check Employment Status: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the childminders Employment Status has been checked	
Question	2.2 Public liability insurance 	
Description	In order to meet Ofsted requirement 3.88, and FEEE contractual requirements providers must hold Public Liability Insurance with minimum cover of £10,000,000.
	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder has adequate Public Liability Insurance certificate	
Question	2.3 Professional Indemnity Insurance cover	
Description	In order to meet FEEE contractual requirements providers must hold Professional Indemnity Insurance with minimum cover of £100,000
	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder has adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance	
Question	2.4 Car Use	
Description	In order to meet Ofsted statutory requirement 3.90 ‘Vehicles transporting children, and the driver of those vehicles, must be adequately insured.’	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder has adequate Business Car Insurance certificate	
Category	3 Data Protection	
Description	This section is asking for information on how the individual childminder meet Data Protection legislation.	
Question	3.1 Confidential & Data Protection policy/ Confidential Information Storage	
Description	Childminders must be aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the GDPR. 

Ofsted and the Data Protection Act require that confidential information is stored securely.

Childminders also need to consider how long they retain records for. 

EYFS 3.93 & 3.94 states that ‘Confidential information and records about staff and children must be held securely and only accessible and available to those who have a right or professional need to see them.’ ‘Childminders must ensure that they and any assistants understand the need to protect the privacy of the children in their care, as well the legal requirements that exist to ensure that information relating to the child is handled in a way that ensures confidentiality. Parents and/or carers must be given access to all records about their child, provided that no relevant exemptions apply to their disclosure under the Data Protection Act.’	
Help Text	Further information can be found from the Information Commissioners Office - https://ico.org.uk/

CoramPACEY also has further information - https://www.corampacey.org.uk/

Policy prompts can be found here - https://thehub.walthamforest.gov.uk/policy/early-years/policies-procedures
Retention of people records is an extremely complex and constantly changing area. Organisations following good practice should have a document retention policy and monitoring programme that’s communicated to all staff. They should also follow both physical and electronic data security methods. The policy should ensure that records are kept as long as needed but no longer, and that records are destroyed securely. Such programmes may involve training, not only about the legal issues involved, but also why having organised records benefits the business.
The HMRC, NSPCC and CoramPACEY provide guidance on data retention.	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder protects the privacy of children in their care.

Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder ensures information relating to a child is handled in a way that ensures confidentiality  

Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder securely stores confidential information held in hard copy i.e. on paper and/or digitally

Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder enables parents/or carers access to their child’s records at the setting

Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder retains learning & development records, safeguarding records and business records for the relevant period of time but no longer	
Question	3.2 ICO Registration	
Description	If providers hold information digitally or use digital means to communicate with parents, then they are required to register with the Information Commissioners Office. 	
Help Text	Digitally includes, emails, online systems such as 'baby-days', text messages, photos, WhatsApp groups/messages, Facebook etc.
Further information can be found here - https://ico.org.uk/	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have checked the childminder has a valid ICO certificate in place	
Category	4 Working with Assistants	
Description	If the childminder works with assistants, then they have wider legal duties both to meet from Ofsted and Employment Law.

If they do NOT work with any assistants please answer the first question of this section, then please move to section 5.	
Question	4.1 Does the childminder work with an assistant/s or work with another childminder?	
Description	Please tell us if the childminder does or does not work with assistants. 	
Response	YES (Continue this section)

NO (Move to section 5)	
Question	4.2 Number of assistants	
Description	Childminders can work together with 3 other people (4 including the childminder) from their domestic/non-domestic premises. 
 
Childminders must comply with EYFS statutory requirements with regards to adult to child ratios during all periods that they are operating. 

Please tell us how many assistants the childminder employs. 

Please tell us how many other childminder’s the individual childminder works with, their Ofsted registration number and their employment status e.g., self-employed or a company.

Please note planning permission information
If you wish to set up a new Ofsted registered childminding service from a domestic/non-domestic property or expand an existing childminder provision, in some cases, you may need to submit a “Change of Use” planning application to ensure your premises has the correct “Planning Use” category to be able to operate the childminding service from there. There are specific planning use classes that allow you to operate a childcare service from your home. Generally, if it is just you looking after children in part of your home, you will not require a change of use application, however, if you take on staff, therefore increasing the number of children at your home and in effect using more of your home for childcare, you must contact the LA's Planning department to check. For further guidance, read information here: https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/childminderpremiseshealthsafety#planning
It should be noted that nursery type operational uses are not promoted in residential areas where the use can have negative impact on general character of the area and cause undue nuisance in terms general noise and activity. 	
Response	Please enter number of assistants the individual childminder works with/employs:

Please enter number of childminders the individual childminder works with:

Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed evidence the individual childminder has contacted the LA’s Planning department to check if planning permission is required, and a copy of planning approval if applicable
	
Question	4.3 Safer Recruitment training	
Description	Has the childminder undertaken Safer Recruitment training?	
Help Text	Waltham Forest Local Safeguarding Children's Board requires childcare providers who employ staff to undertake Safer Recruitment training. More details can be found here -  https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/recruitmentchildminderassistant We would recommend that Childminders undertake this training as well.	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have checked the childminder has undertaken Safer Recruitment training (Yes/No)	
Question	4.4 Suitability of assistants	
Description	For childminding settings, Ofsted or their CMA are responsible for ensuring the suitability of any assistants when they first join their setting. However, you are responsible for ensuring their on-going suitability.	
Help Text	More information around staff suitability and disqualification can be found with statutory requirements 3.14 to 3.28. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
	
Response	For EVERY assistant, Childminder Agency to confirm they have carried out all of the relevant suitability checks.

Please describe how the individual childminder ensures the ongoing suitability of assistants, including ensuring they do not become disqualified or disqualified by association	
Question	4.5 Employment Status Check for Paid Assistants	
Description	Has an Employment Status check been completed for each assistant who receives pay? (this does not need to be completed for volunteers who provide their services free of charge).	
Help Text	
Further information and the online Employment Status check can be found on the HMRC website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax

Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have verified Employment Status checks for every assistant	
Question	4.6 Employment Contract	
Description	Have all assistants been provided with a written contract of employment? 	
Help Text	Further information about what employment contracts must include as a minimum can be found on the HMRC website - https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions
 
Further information around employing staff can be found on the WF Provider Hub - https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/recruitmentchildminderassistant

CoramPACEY also provides a wealth of information around employing assistants - https://www.corampacey.org.uk/so-you-are-thinking-of-employing-staff/ 	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the contract is in place for EVERY assistant	
Question	4.7 Minimum Wage compliance	
Description	Individual Childminders must pay their assistant/s at or above the National Minimum/National Living Wage
	
Help Text	Current National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm all assistants are paid at or above the minimum wage	
Question	4.8 PAYE Compliance	
Description	As an employer, the childminders normally have to operate PAYE as part of their payroll. PAYE is HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) system to collect Income Tax and National Insurance from employment.	
Help Text	More details on PAYE can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/paye-online	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that the childminder is operating PAYE and is registered with HMRC.
	
Question	4.9 Workplace Pension	
Description	Under the Pension Act 2008, EVERY employer in the UK must put certain staff into a pension scheme and contribute towards it, even if they only employ one person. This system is called auto enrolment. 	
Help Text	Further information about workplace pensions, including an online checker can be accessed via the Pension Regulator - https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that the childminder has enrolled ALL assistant/s onto a workplace pension scheme.

If any assistants are not enrolled in a workplace pension, please explain why.	
Question	4.10 Volunteers	
Description	If the childminder has volunteers in their setting, there are certain things they need to be aware of. More information can be found here 
https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/employingearlyyearsstaff	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm if any assistants are volunteers.

If NO (Move to question 4.11)

If YES, Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the following information:

•	The number of volunteers in the individual childminder setting?

•	Their names and the number of hours they are in the setting each week

•	Any expenses they receive

•	Ensured a volunteer agreement is in place	
Question	4.11 Staff Discipline & Policy	
Description	By law employers must set out a grievance procedure and disciplinary procedure and share it in writing with all employees.	
Help Text	Further information can be found on the Government website about employing people

https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people

https://www.gov.uk/handling-employee-grievance/grievance-procedure

https://www.gov.uk/taking-disciplinary-action	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the individual childminders staff discipline policy and staff grievance policy	
Question	4.12 Staff skills, support and ongoing training	
Description	Childminders are accountable for the quality of the work of any assistants and must be satisfied that assistants are competent to meet their roles and responsibilities. Ofsted Statutory requirement 3.38.

Please provide details of how the individual childminder supports assistants to ensure they are competent to undertake the work they do, including;

•	Induction process
•	Supervisions
•	Ongoing development and coaching

As well as ensuring assistants understand their safeguarding policy and procedures and that they have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues.	
Help Text	Further details of Ofsted requirements are covered in requirements 3.33-3.36, 3.38-3.41. 
	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed how the individual childminders induct assistants to ensure they are competent to undertake the work they do.

Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed any documents or templates the individual childminders have in place to support staff induction and supervision for staff to:
•	Help their professional development
•	Swiftly tackle under performance
•	Discuss issues, particularly concerning a child’s development or wellbeing
•	Ensure assistants understand the safeguarding policy and have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues	
Question	4.13 Employers Liability Insurance 	
Description	In order to meet Employment Law regulations, childminders are required to hold Employers Liability Insurance. To meet FEEE contractual requirements this must have minimum cover of up to 10,000,000. 
	
Help Text	More information on Employers Liability Insurance can be found on the government’s website here -  https://www.gov.uk/employers-liability-insurance	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the childminder has adequate Employers Liability Insurance	
Question	4.14 Sole care of minded children	
Description	Are assistants ever left in the sole care of minded children?
	
Help Text	Ofsted requirement 3.55 covers what needs to be considered before leaving assistants in the sole care of children. 	
Response	If no, move to section 5.

If yes, Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the following:

•	That assistants are not left in sole care of children for more than 2 hours

•	The assistants have a valid Paediatric First Aid certificate for every assistant who is left in sole care of children
	
Category	5 Safeguarding	
Description	In this section we are asking for information to ensure the individual childminder is meeting best practice with regards to Safeguarding. 	
Question	5.1 Disclosure and Barring Checks	
Description	We need to be sure that any adults living or working on the premises where childcare takes place are suitable to do so. Please confirm proof of DBS checks.	
Help Text	Childminders and any assistants must be suitable; they must have the relevant training and have passed any required checks to fulfil their roles. Childminders must obtain a reference for any childminding assistants they recruit. Childminders and any assistants must be cleared as ‘suitable’ by Ofsted or their CMA via the suitability letter before they can be included in child: staff ratios. It is the childminder’s responsibility to check the initial and ongoing suitability of an assistant.  Childminders must also ensure any person who may have regular contact with children (for example, someone living or working on the same premises where the childminding is being provided), is suitable. Ofsted, or a childminder’s CMA, is responsible for completing suitability checks of: The childminder; Every other person looking after children on the premises; For childminders with domestic premises, every other person aged 16 and over living or working on any domestic premises where the childminding is being provided. Ofsted Statutory Requirements 3.14-3.28. 	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have checked that all adults (over 16 years of age), living on the premises, other than individual childminder have an appropriate DBS check in place.	
Question	5.2 Notifying Ofsted of new adults	
Description	If new adults move into the home where childminding takes place, or if children turn 16, after initial registration, Ofsted must be notified so that required suitability checks can be undertaken.	
Response	Childminder Agency to provide details of the process they have in place of notifying Ofsted, of any adults that have moved into the home where childminding takes place	
Question	5.3 Attendance Register	
Description	Childminders must keep a daily record of the names of children being cared for and their hours of attendance. Ofsted Statutory requirement 3.101	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the individual childminders attendance records. This record must include the actual hours of attendance for the children.	
Question	5.4 Model Safeguarding policy	
Description	Has the childminder accessed a copy of the Waltham Forest Model Safeguarding policy? And is it working alongside their own safeguarding policy?	
Help Text	EYFS 3.6 & 3.7 states Childminders must have and implement policies and procedures to keep children safe and meet EYFS requirements Policies and procedures should be in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant LSP. ‘safeguarding policies must include: The action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child; the action to be taken in the event of an allegation being made against anyone living, working or looking after children at the premises from which the childcare/ childminding is provided; how mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities are used in the setting; procedures to follow to check the suitability of new recruits; detail of how safeguarding training is delivered and how practitioners are supported to put this into practice.’

Waltham Forest’s Safeguarding in Education Team will contact the Agency with regards to accessing the current Waltham Forest model safeguarding policy.	
Response	Childminder Agency to verify the individual Childminder is working in line with the current Waltham Forest Model Safeguarding Policy

Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed the individual Childminders Safeguarding Policy	
Question	5.5 Child and Parental Information/ Permissions	
Description	Please provide proof of how the childminder meets the requirement to collect required parental and child information. This is most often done through a child record form.

Please provide proof of how they gain parental permission for; first aid and medical treatment, administering medication, taking photographs, sharing learning records and if applicable leaving with assistant.
	
Help Text	The childminder needs to demonstrate how they meet statutory requirements: 3.55,3.61,3.87,3.92-3.97and requirements for information sharing under Data Protection. 	
Responses	Childminder Agency to confirm they have reviewed how the individual Childminder gains parental permission for: 
•	first aid and medical treatment, 
•	administering medication, 
•	taking photographs, 
•	sharing learning records,
•	leaving children with assistant/s (if applicable) 	
Question	5.6 Paediatric First Aid Training	
Description	Please provide proof that the Childminder holds a valid Paediatric First Aid qualification.	
Help Text	Ofsted Statutory Requirement 3.42 and Annex A provide further information.	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that the individual childminder has a valid Paediatric First Aid certificate in place	
Question	5.7 Safeguarding Training	
Description	Training for DSLs, must cover local child protection procedures and how to liaise with local statutory children's services agencies and with the local safeguarding partners to safeguard children. (Annex C). Training must be renewed every two years.

Please provide evidence of how the childminder meets the statutory requirements to be the lead practitioner for safeguarding, including the requirements for training and regular professional updates.  	
Help Text	Further guidance can be found here:

Ofsted Statutory requirements 3.33 to 3.36 and Annex C
Working Together to safeguard Children 
Inspecting Safeguarding in the Early Years 
	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the individual childminder has completed the Child Protection Training which meets the statutory criteria and is dated within 2 years.	
Question	5.8 Accidents or Injury	
Description	To meet Ofsted statutory requirement 3.77 'Childminders must ensure there is a first aid box accessible at all times with appropriate content for use with children'. They must also keep a written record of accidents or injuries and first aid treatment.	
Response	Childminder Agency to verify the individual childminder meets the requirement 3.77
	
Question	5.9 Medication Policy	
Description	Ofsted statutory requirement 3.60 states that 'Childminders must have and implement a policy, and procedures, for administering medicines.'	
Response	Childminder Agency to verify that the individual childminder meets the requirement 3.60 and have reviewed the medication policy and record form.	
Question	5.10 Suitability of visitors 	
Description	Statutory requirement 3.87 talks about the need for the identity of visitors to be checked.	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that the individual Childminder ensure that any visitors entering their setting when they are caring for children are suitable to be around children 	
Category	6 Health & Safety	
Description	Statutory requirement 3.79 states that 'Childminders must ensure that their premises, including overall floor space and outdoor spaces, are fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for and the activities provided on the premises. Childminders must comply with requirements of Health and Safety Legislation (including fire safety and hygiene requirements)'.	
Help Text	More information on the Health and Safety and making it simple please follow this link to the HSE website. 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/index.htm
	
Question	6.1 Fire Safety	
Description	Childminders are required to comply with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Please answer the following questions to demonstrate how individual childminders are meeting these requirements. 	
Help Text	Further support around fire safety, including completing fire risk assessments and escape plans can be found here:

https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/becoming-a-registered-childminder-in-waltham-forest

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that they have reviewed the individual childminder’s fire risk assessment, and evacuation procedure in the event of a fire.  	
Question	6.2 Gas Certificate	
Description	To meet with Health and Safety Legislation gas appliance tests must be carried out annually.	
Help Text	More information can be found via this document on the hub.

https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/becoming-a-registered-childminder-in-waltham-forest	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that they have reviewed the last gas appliance test	
Question	6.3 Risk Assessment	
Description	Requirement 3.91 requires that 'childminders must ensure that they take all reasonable steps to ensure staff and children in their care are not exposed to risks and must be able to demonstrate how they are managing risk. 	
Help Text	Further information around assessing risk can be found here, including how to conduct risk assessments: 

https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/
	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm that they have reviewed the processes (and any written risk assessments) in place for the following:
•	how the individual childminder ensures children’s safety inside their premises
•	how individual childminder ensure children’s safety while accessing their garden
•	how individual childminder ensure children’s safety while off site	
Category	7 Tax Free Childcare	
Description	The government offers parents tax free childcare with approved providers https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare	
Help Text	Early years providers can sign up to tax free childcare 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-to-tax-free-childcare-if-youre-a-childcare-provider
	
Response	Childminder Agency to confirm the individual childminder is registered to offer tax free childcare	
Category	8 DISCLAIMERS	
Question	8.1 DISCLAIMER	
Description	The statements contained in this Childminders FEEE Compliance check are prepared solely for the purpose of meeting the Local Authority’s statutory duty to secure the provision of information, advice and training to childcare providers and childcare workers, in order for them to understand and comply with their statutory obligations and Local Authority contractual requirements. It is a reasonable attempt to identify any obvious or significant areas of non-compliance apparent across the areas covered by the Compliance Checks at the time of the inspection checks. It should not be solely relied upon to establish compliance across all areas. It remains the owner's / Ofsted registered person / organisation’s sole responsibility to comply with all the legal and statutory requirements associated with running their school or childcare business. 	
Response	Please sign to confirm that you understand and agree with the Disclaimer

Name: ______________________________    Signature: ________________________________