Guidance

National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years: statutory guidance - Audience and overview

Standard of care child minding and day care providers must meet to look after children under 12.

First published: 18 June 2026

Last updated: 18 June 2026

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Standard 4: Meeting individual needs

Child’s voice: Everyone listens to me and my family. I am supported and get the care I need to thrive.

Well-being outcome: Children’s individual needs are understood, planned and provided for.

The registered person is responsible for ensuring that:

For all children:

4.1 They can demonstrate that they can meet the needs of children placed with them.

4.2 They (or their staff) have the skills and experience needed to plan for and meet a child’s individual needs and preferences.

4.3 Using a child-centred approach to the planning of provision, the welfare and development of all children is promoted. The views of children and their families is actively sought and incorporated into planning and decision making.

4.4 The needs and preferences of individual children (including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities) in relation to their home language(s), intended medium of education (e.g., Welsh or English) and their social, cultural and religious practices are understood and catered for.

4.5 Privacy when intimate care is being provided is respected.

4.6 Staffing arrangements are designed to meet the needs of individual children who attend, including those who have additional support needs.

For disabled children and children with additional support needs:

4.7 Where a child has, or may have, additional support needs, providers and parents work together so that appropriate steps to access advice or support are taken.

4.8 Appropriate action is taken if it is identified that a child has or may have additional support needs.

4.9 Disabled children and children with additional support needs have equitable access, alongside their peers, to the facilities, activities and play opportunities provided to promote their welfare and development.

4.10 The physical environment is, as far as is reasonable, suitable for disabled children and children with additional support needs.

4.11 Where a possible need for specialist help or equipment is identified, the setting should contact the local authority.

Additional learning needs (ALN)

4.12 Where a provider thinks a child has an additional learning need (ALN), wherever possible, this should be discussed with their parent. Either the provider or the parent can bring it to the attention of the local authority that a child has, or may have, ALN. In responding, the local authority must follow the requirements and guidance set out in The Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales.

4.13 The Welsh Government has published a parents' guide to rights under the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system and SNAP Cymru provide independent advise and guidance on early years help for parents of young children who have or may have ALN.

4.14 Registered non-maintained childcare settings which are approved and funded by the local authority to provide nursery education:

have a role in supporting local authorities to identify ALN and in helping local authorities to fulfil their statutory obligations.
are required to have regard to relevant guidance in the ALN Code, in accordance with the local authority’s funding arrangements.

4.15 Children with ALN have equitable access, alongside their peers, to the facilities, activities and play opportunities provided.

To assist providers, the principal regulatory requirements underpinning this standard are outlined below, followed by relevant guidance. Providers should note that neither list is exhaustive, and that providers must have regard to all standards relevant to their service and the circumstances concerned.