One area sure to re-ignite controversy is the advice for childminders on smacking and smoking with parental consent. The guidance on these issues only serves to highlight just how disgraceful it is that these were enshrined in the standards.
Childminders are advised that they should 'consider not smoking when preparing food, feeding babies, holding or changing children'. They are told that it might be a bad idea to smoke in bed when minding overnight. They are warned to 'consider the risks of burns to children from lighted cigarettes, bearing in mind the height of children'. Oh, and they should keep written records 'in case of legal action in future years' - presumably when their charges sue them for ill-health caused by passive smoking!
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