Guide for Nannies on the Ofsted Nanny Register
Arrangements for Safeguarding Children
Nannies must ensure they are familiar with issues of child protection and procedures to safeguard children from abuse or neglect.
Requirement Ref: CR2.2
This means that you need to know about Signs of Abuse and local procedures for reporting child abuse concerns. Contact your local Families Information Service for details of Safeguarding Children training courses for childcare workers. Many councils provide access to an online e-learning package, so you can learn about Safeguarding Children at your own pace, at a time convenient to you.
Qualifications and Training
Nannies must have successfully completed a qualification at a minimum of level 2 in an area of work relevant to childcare, or training in the core skills as set out in the document 'common core of skills and knowledge for the children's workforce'.
Requirement Ref: CR4.2
This means that you need to have some kind of childcare training. At present it is unclear as to which training courses are acceptable, though the Children's Workforce Development Council are developing a list of qualifications.
How the childcare provision is organised
Nannies must ensure that children's behaviour is managed in a suitable manner.
Requirement Ref: CR6.2
You should discuss with your employer with regard to how you should manage the children's behaviour. I find that many parents these days use some form of timeout, when a child's behaviour becomes unacceptable.
Nannies must ensure that where older and younger children are together, the behaviour of children over the age of eight years does not have a negative effect on the younger children.
Requirement Ref: CR6.3
This means that if you care for children over 8 years old, you need to manage their behaviour such that younger children in your care are not adversily effected.
Nannies must ensure that the childcare is accessible and inclusive by taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of each child, relating to their childcare, are met.
Requirement Ref: CR6.4
This means that you need to treat each child as an individual and meet each child's individual childcare needs.
Nannies must ensure that the childcare is accessible and inclusive by not refusing to provide childcare or treat any child less favourably than another child by reason of the child's: race | religion | home language | family background | gender | disability and/or learning difficulty, taking all reasonable steps to ensure children with disabilities have access to the premises.
Requirement Ref: CR6.5
This means that you should not discrimate against a child. I am not sure how Ofsted expect nannies to comply with this fully, as a nanny can not make sure a families home is suitable for a disabled child, when the family concerned does not have a disabled child. Therefore I feel it should be assumed that Ofsted just want you to be aware of disabilities and discrimination.
Providing Information to Parents
Nannies must make the following information available to parents: information about the registration system for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, Ofsted's address.
Requirement Ref: CR9.3
This means that you should give parents details about the Ofsted Childcare Register. Information for parents and carers using childcare services 44.29 kB PDF from the Ofsted website. Also you should make sure that parents know how they can contact Ofsted: 08456 404040 Ofsted, Royal Exchange Buildings, St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7LA
Ofsted have also produced a poster - Download Poster
Providing information to Ofsted
Nannies must inform Ofsted of changes of circumstances as soon as they can (no later than 14 days after the change occurs).
Requirement Ref: CR10
This means that you need to keep Ofsted informed of major changes, such as if you change job, change your own contact details.
Changes to premises and provision
Nannies must inform Ofsted of the following: a change to the address of the premise where they are providing childcare | a change in the type of childcare they provide.
Requirement Ref: CR11
This means that if you change job, you need to tell Ofsted. I feel it is unlikely that you will change the type of care provided. If you stop being a nanny, notify Ofsted.
Changes to people
Nannies must inform Ofsted of the following: any change to their name, address or telephone number | any significant event which is likely to affect their suitability.
Requirement Ref: CR12
This means that if you get married and thus change your name, notify Ofsted. If you change your name for another reason, notify Ofsted. If you move home or change your contact phone number, notify Ofsted. If you are convicted of a crime, notify Ofsted.
Matters affecting the welfare of children
While you are providng childcare, if any of the following occur you need to contact Ofsted.
Food poisoning affecting two or more children in your care.
Serious accident or injury, or death of a child in your care. Serious accident/injury in this case I feel is any that requires hospital admission.
Serious accident/injury, or death of any other person on the premises.
Any allegation of serious harm to, or abuse of, a child committed by any person looking after children at the premises. I feel this means that if you are accused of abusing or harming a child in your care, you need to notify Ofsted with regard to that allegation.
Insurance
Nannies must be covered by their own insurance in respect of liability which would be incurred for death, injury, public liability, damage or other loss.
Requirement Ref: CR14.1
Nanny insurance is available from a number of providers. The most popular insurer of nannies in the UK seems to me to be Morton Michel. Details about Nanny Insurance from Morton Michel
Certificate of Registration
Nannies must show the certificate of registration to a parent on request.
Requirement Ref: CR15.2
This means that if a parent who employs you asks to see your registration certificae, that you must show them your registration certificate.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this brief guide for Ofsted Registered Nannies and nannies considering becoming Ofsted Registered.
This is Page 2 of the guide. Please make sure you have read Nanny Register Guide - Page 1