All PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and the Early Years) 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

PACEY childminders:

• comply with the requirements of their membership and are registered and have suitable insurance cover
• undertake relevant training where possible
• keep up to date with relevant regulations and legislation.

 

2. Manage children’s behaviour

PACEY childminders:

• 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

PACEY childminders:

• 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

PACEY childminders:

• 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

PACEY childminders:

• 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

PACEY childminders:

• 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

7. Keep children safe

PACEY childminders:

• ensure a smoke-free environment while they are caring for 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

8. Know about nutrition

PACEY childminders:

• discuss children’s dietary needs with parents
• provide children with a healthy, balanced diet

9. Have good business practices

PACEY childminders:

• 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

10. Seek support

PACEY childminders:

• seek advice from other professionals when necessary
• take advantage of the opportunities for mutual support provided by PACEY and local childminding groups.