Skip to main content

In this page

Glossary

TermDefinition
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Chronic stress on individuals during childhood. Such stress arises from the abuse and neglect of children but also from growing up in households where children are routinely exposed to issues such as domestic violence or individuals with alcohol and other substance use problems. Collectively such childhood stressors are called ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). 
Additional Learning Needs (ALN)Children and young people with learning difficulties or disabilities that need extra support to learn.
Additional support NeedsAdditional support needs refer to the extra or different support that a child or young person may require, at any time, to play, participate, learn, develop, and thrive alongside their peers.
Anti-Racist  Actively identifying and eradicating the systems, structures and processes that produce radically differential outcomes for ethnic minority groups.  It involves acknowledging that even when we do not regard ourselves as ‘racist’ we can, by doing nothing, be complicit in allowing racism to continue. 
Appropriately supervisedRefers to a situation in which an unqualified or volunteer staff member is overseen by a qualified individual who is present and able to monitor their practice at all times. The supervising qualified person must be readily accessible, aware of the actions and responsibilities of the unqualified staff member, and able to intervene or provide guidance whenever necessary to meet children’s needs and ensure their safety and wellbeing within the setting.
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) The regulatory body responsible for ensuring that childcare Regulations and NMS standards are met – CIW register, inspect and take action to improve the quality and safety of services for the well-being of the people of Wales.
Chwarae o SafonChwarae o Safon is Play Wales’ playwork quality mark. Chwarae o Safon is intended to be used in unregulated playwork settings, as well as settings regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). It also applies to those involved in playwork in non-dedicated playwork settings.
Cwlwm  

A consortium, made up of five childcare and play partners, who support childcare and play settings with guidance and membership, encouraging quality and sustainable settings. 

The partners are:

Mudiad Meithrin (MM) which specialises in Welsh-medium early years provision;   

Coram PACEY Cymru which promotes best practice and supports childminders;  

National Day Nurseries Association Cymru (NDNA Cymru) which provides specific information, advice and training on running a nursery in Wales; 

Early Years Wales which promotes and supports bilingual pre-school care, education and learning through play across Wales;  

Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs (CPCKC) which aims to help communities in Wales by promoting, developing and supporting quality, affordable, accessible out of school childcare clubs. 

Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning (DARPL)  

DARPL brings together a diverse team of providers with lived and professional experience. Supports anti-racist professional learning and leadership for childcare play and early years through a learning and resource hub. 

 

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS)A DBS check is a way for employers to check your criminal record, to help decide whether you are a suitable person to work for them. This includes deciding whether it is suitable for you to work with children or vulnerable adults.
Early Childhood Play, Learning and Care provision (ECPLC)  Early Childhood Play, Learning and Care provided by the childcare or play setting or nursery education provided in a school. This is provision for babies and young children aged 0-5 years old. 
Early YearsDefined by Welsh Government as the period in a child’s life from 0-7.
Equality Act 2010The Equality Act 2010 provides a legal framework to protect people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
Excepted from registration (Exceptions)  Settings which fall within the circumstances set out in the Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Wales) Order 2010 and are not required to register with Care Inspectorate Wales.
Food Standards Agency and Environmental Health Organisation that safeguards public health and protects the interests of consumers in relation to food.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)The national regulator for workplace health and safety.
Inclusive and Accessible Play spaceAn inclusive and accessible play space is a space which is barrier-free, which meet the wide and varying needs of every child. All children will enjoy high levels of participation opportunities, equally rich in play value.
National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to 12 years of age  Standards that are used to support child minding and day care settings to meet the childcare regulatory requirements for care for children up to the age of twelve and issued under regulation 14 of the Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010(as amended).
National Training Standards (Social Care Wales) A comprehensive framework for the training, development, and ongoing education of the social care work force in Wales. The standards are designed to ensure that all staff working within social care services possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to deliver high-quality, person-centred care and support. 
Play Play is a behaviour, activity or process initiated, controlled and structured by children, as non-compulsory, driven by intrinsic motivation, not a means to an end and that has key characteristics of fun, uncertainty, challenge, flexibility and non-productivity. 
Play Wales  The national charity for children's play, provides advice and guidance to support all those who have an interest in, or responsibility for providing for children's play.
PlayworkerMember of staff who works to facilitate children’s play in line with the Playwork Principles may work unsupervised as part of a wider team and have various responsibilities within that team.
Practitioners   This generic term refers to the adults that work with children paid or unpaid 
Premises“premises” includes any area and any vehicle.
Registered personThe person registered with CIW to act as a child minder or provider of day care.
Regulated day care  Regulated day care provision encompasses a wide range of different types of provision, that are subject to legislative and regulatory requirements National Minimum Standards for Registered Childcare (NMS) and are registered and inspected by CIW.   
RegulationsThe Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010 (as amended)
Risk Benefit AssessmentA process of risk assessment focussed on determining whether the benefits of a particular activity outweigh the residual risks of harm.
Safe and SecureAs safe and secure as reasonably practicable in an open public space and that this is managed through Risk Benefit Assessment and visitor logs
Social Care Wales Social Care Wales (SCW) are the regulatory body for social care with responsibility for workforce development of the social care and early years and childcare sector in Wales. SCW is focused on taking action to build confidence, seek improvement and support the development of the social care and early years and childcare workforce. SCW host the qualifications framework for childcare which specifies the recognised qualifications for those working in early years and childcare.
Social Model of Disability Under the social model of disability, a disabled child is a child who has an impairment or condition and is disabled by barriers in society, rather than by their impairment itself.
Statement of purposeA statement that all registered childcare providers are required to have, by law. The statement must include all the information under Regulation 15 of the Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010 about the aims and objectives and other relevant matters about the service to be provided for children under the care of the registered person.
StaffRefers to staff within the day care setting in question, whether paid or unpaid and who may have undertake a number of different roles (including non-playwork roles).
Supervision and appraisalRefers to a regular, planned process that supports employees to reflect on their work, manage responsibilities and wellbeing, and maintain safe and effective practice. Appraisal is a formal review of an employee’s performance over a set period, used to recognise achievements, identify development needs and agree future objectives.
The MeasureThe Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010.
Trauma-Informed ApproachThis An approach which recognises that everyone has a role in facilitating opportunities and life chances for people affected by trauma and adversity. It is an approach where a person, organisation, programme or system realises the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for healing and overcoming adversity and trauma as an individual or with the support of others, including communities and services.
Unqualified/VolunteerAn individual working in a registered day care setting who does not hold a recognised qualification required for the role/service type. This definition also encompasses staff members who may be actively working towards achieving the required qualification. These individuals may be employed or carry out tasks within the setting on a volunteer basis.
Unincorporated associationAn association which does not have legal personality separate from its members.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)The UNCRC is an international agreement setting out the rights of children. The rationale for the UNCRC is that children’s rights need specific consideration due to the special care and protection often needed by children and young people. It is a list of rights that all children and young people have.
Wales Safeguarding ProceduresThe roles and responsibilities for practitioners to follow to ensure that they safeguard and protect children and adults who may be experiencing or at risk of abuse and neglect. In relation to children, this also includes any other form of harm.
Working Together to Safeguard People: Code of Safeguarding PracticeNon-statutory guidance setting out clear principles and standards for individuals, groups and organisations to follow in order to protect individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults, from harm and abuse. It emphasises partnership working, accountability, and the importance of promoting wellbeing, ensuring that safeguarding responsibilities are understood and acted upon effectively by all those involved.
WellbeingState of being comfortable, healthy or happy