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

This National Minimum Standards (NMS) replaces the document entitled National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare, published in November 2023. Separate standalone NMS guidance has been issued for providers of regulated open access play.

The changes fall into two main categories: those made following a review of the NMS and a public consultation, and routine updates designed to keep the NMS aligned with current policies and legislation. 

Open Access Play provision – a separate set of standalone NMS for Open Access Play provision has been created to reflect the unique nature of this type of day care. References to open access play have been removed from this guidance. See: National Minimum Standards for Regulated Day Care - Open Access Play for children aged 5 years to 12 years: statutory guidance | GOV.WALES

Structure and layout of the NMS - the NMS guidance is presented in HTML format with the addition of a printable version to bring the guidance in line with www.Gov.Wales standards and improve its structure, layout and user experience.

How to use the National Minimum Standards – the “How to use the National Minimum Standards” paragraph has been updated. Each standard includes the Child’s Voice and Well-being Outcome statements followed by the relevant standards, related regulations and links to further guidance. 

High Quality Provision – this section has been included to strengthen information and requirements with regards to quality, embedding a children’s rights approach.

Definition of Open Access Play – there is an updated definition following recommendation 11.3 of the Ministerial Review of Play (MRoP) Report to review and update the definition of open access play. 

Standard 11 Medication and supporting Annex D - Guidance for administering liquid paracetamol when children become unwell at the registered setting – Standard 11 Medication has been updated to provide clearer standards and a distinction between prescribed and non-prescribed medication. Annex D provides clarity on the administration of non-prescribed paracetamol oral suspension (“liquid paracetamol”) in the circumstances described. 

Deployment of staff in Day Care - Standard 13 (DC) Suitable Person (Day Care) - Standard 13.4 (DC) and Standard 13.5 (DC) have been added to offer clarification on the deployment of staff across the setting. The standards provide guidance in instances where settings may include additional staff, which are over and above required adult : child ratios to support with meeting children’s individual needs.

Child minder assistants and Annex A (Child minder Assistants) Standard 13 (CM) Suitable Person – the changes provide clarity about a child minder assistant’s role. Standard 13 (CM) Suitable Person 13.4 (CM) is updated to provide clarity about the circumstances when a child minder assistant can start work whilst completing a child minder assistant qualification.

Annex A is updated to provide guidance about the duration a child minder assistant can be left in sole charge of children.

Child minder ratios – Standard 15 Staffing Ratio (CM) – Standards 15.1 (CM), 15.2 (CM) and 15.3 (CM) have changed to reflect numbers of children that child minders may care for, particularly for children under 5, along with changes to support flexible and sustainable child minder provision. 

Introductory chapter – the introductory chapter has been updated. The introduction includes information on high quality childcare and emphasises children’s rights, well-being, relationships, emotional development and lived experience. There are updated links to Welsh Government policies and priorities, along with links to relevant organisations.

Regulated Child Minding and Day Care – this has been updated to include new examples of day care provision.

Exceptions: circumstances when registration is not required – this has been updated to introduce future changes to exceptions and explains the transition period (from April 2027 to March 2028) for providers who may no longer be exempt from registration.

Welsh Government has updated and refreshed key references to legislation and/or policy throughout the NMS guidance, including changes to wording to strengthen specific standards. Some important changes include: 

Standard 6 Working in partnership with parents – Standard 6.11 – updated legislative reference

Standard 7 Opportunities for play and learning – aligned with Early Childhood Play Learning and Care (ECPLC) principles and Curriculum for Wales references

Standard 10 Healthcare –anti- smoking and vaping standards

Standard 20 Safeguarding 

Standard 24 Safety – Fire risk standards 

Glossary – new terms have been added to the glossary 

It is recommended that providers familiarise themselves with this updated NMS and dispose of any previous paper copies.