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.
This file may not be fully accessible.
In this page
Standard 10: Healthcare
Child’s voice: If I’m not well, I’m looked after and everyone does their best to make sure I get the help I need.
Well-being outcome: Children’s physical and emotional health needs are understood and supported in ways that promote well-being and positive health habits.
The registered person is responsible for ensuring that:
Health
10.1 The good health of children is promoted, and positive steps are taken to prevent the spread of infection with appropriate measures taken in cases of illness.
10.2 No child is received if he/she appears to be ill. If children become unwell during their time in the childcare or play setting, care is taken to prevent possible infection of other children and parents are notified as soon as possible.
10.3 Other parents are notified if a child attending the setting, or anyone else on the premises (e.g., a staff or family member), has been diagnosed as having a significant infectious disease (e.g., chicken pox, impetigo) maintaining individual confidentiality as appropriate.
10.4 Parents know that they must inform the registered person or childcare service about their child’s healthcare needs and, in consultation with the child’s parent(s), those needs are addressed; taking any action that is necessary.
10.5 Written parental permission is obtained in advance regarding any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment.
10.6 The premises and equipment are kept clean and hygienic.
10.7 Staff are informed and aware of the importance of good hygiene practice to prevent the spread of infection. Staff are informed of and kept up to date with good hygiene procedures.
10.8 Children are encouraged to learn about good personal hygiene, and practise it, through the daily routine.
10.9 Any animals on the premises are safe to be in the proximity of children and do not pose a health risk.
10.10 Sandpits are protected from contamination and the sand is clean.
Food Hygiene
10.11 Those responsible for the preparation and handling of food are fully aware of and comply with Regulations relating to food safety and hygiene.
Nappy Changing
10.12 Where care is provided for babies and children in nappies, there should be a nappy changing policy in place with which staff are familiar. The policy should cover both hygiene matters and good safeguarding practice.
10.13 Children under 2 should be fed and changed by their key worker or a consistent adult.
Anti- Smoking and vaping
10.14 The indoor and outdoor areas of premises in which childcare is provided are required to be smoke-free. The outdoor areas are however only required to be smoke-free when the premises is being used for day care or child minding. In the case of a child minder providing care in their home, the home is required to be smoke-free in the parts being used to provide child minding services for the period that the children are present in the child minder’s home. The outdoor areas of the child minders home are also required to be smoke-free if one or more of the children are in the outdoor area. Any smoking materials and vapes must be kept out of reach of children at all times. Smoking is not permitted in the presence of children being looked after in a childcare setting. This applies to both the indoor and outdoor areas of the premises in which childcare is provided. Guidance on the requirements is available on the Welsh Government website Smoke-free law: guidance on the changes from March 2021 [HTML] | GOV.WALES
10.15 'No Smoking’ signs are required inside the childcare setting (unless the setting is also a dwelling, such as a child minder’s home for which where there are no signage requirements for inside or outside areas). There is also no requirement for ‘No Smoking’ signs to be displayed in other outdoor care settings for children (like a playgroup for example) as many these are in areas that are used only intermittently as a childcare setting or are shared with other premises. ‘No Smoking’ signs may be displayed in outdoor areas and a template ‘No Smoking’ sign is available on the Welsh Government website.
10.16 The person who controls or manages a day care setting or the registered child minder providing care in their home, must for the purposes of smoke-free legislation take reasonable steps to stop anyone smoking in the setting. Guidance is available on the Welsh Government website on how to ensure compliance with the smoke-free legislation.
10.17 In relation to vapes, the smoke-free legislation currently in place only covers smoking tobacco and does not include e-cigarettes/vapes. Therefore, an individual will not be committing an offence if they were to use an e-cigarette/vape in a setting this is required to be smoke-free. However, providers of registered childcare settings are encouraged to restrict the use of e-cigarette/vapes in their setting.
First Aid
10.18 There is a first aid box complying with the relevant Regulations and the contents of the box are checked frequently and replaced as necessary. Where appropriate, a designated member of staff should be responsible for this. The first aid box should be accessible to staff, but out of the reach of children.
10.19 Non-domestic childcare and play settings must also comply with the general first aid at work training requirements set out by Health and Safety Executive in relation to their employees.
10.20 Persons trained in first aid have a “suitable” qualification. The content of Paediatric First Aid courses must be consistent with the criteria set out in National Minimum Standards –guidance for Paediatric First Aid Training at Annex B.
10.21 All first aid certificates should be kept up to date and renewed every 3 years.
10.22 At least one person on the premises caring for children must have a current Full Paediatric First Aid 12 hours certificate which is appropriate for the age of the children being cared for.
10.23 There are sufficient numbers of staff suitably trained in first aid on the premises at all times when children are present. The numbers of suitably trained staff are sufficient given the lay out of the premises and that person’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies and to allow for circumstances where staff may be absent or called away from the setting unexpectedly.
First Aid Training - Child minders:
10.24 Child minders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a Full Paediatric First Aid 12 hours certificate before commencing child minding.
10.25 If the assistant is not left in sole charge of children, they should have an Emergency Paediatric First Aid certificate. The Emergency Paediatric First Aid 6 hours certificate should be undertaken within three months of starting work.
First Aid Training – Day Care Settings (Day Care):
10.26 The minimum requirement is at least 1:10 (trained adult : child ratio) holding a current Full Paediatric First Aid 12 hours certificate.
10.27 All other staff (including regular volunteers or trainees) included in the adult : child staffing ratios must undertake Emergency Paediatric First Aid 6 hours training and maintain a current certificate.
10.28 New starters should undertake an Emergency Paediatric First Aid 6 hours certificate within three months of starting work but can be included in the required adult : child ratios pending completion of the training subject to all other staff having the required First Aid training and current certificates.
10.29 Sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff in first aid must accompany children on any outings.
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 standards relevant to their service and the circumstances concerned.
Related Regulations
Further Guidance and Support
Public Health Wales - Guidance for childcare, preschool and educational settings
Millie’s Mark – accredited quality mark for training all nursery staff in paediatric first aid