Nursery World - Smoke and smack change pleases childminders

Childminders in England have welcomed the Government's decision to change the law and forbid them from smacking children in their care and smoking in their presence. The National Childminding Association (NCMA) has welcomed the changes to the national care standards for under-eights daycare and childminding, which came into force on 1 September, as they would 'help protect children and also acknowledge the professionalism of registered childminders'.

The National Childminding Association (NCMA) has welcomed the changes to the national care standards for under-eights daycare and childminding, which came into force on 1 September, as they would 'help protect children and also acknowledge the professionalism of registered childminders'.

Last week Ofsted issued guidance for care providers, in which it said that under Standard 11 on behaviour and physical punishment and interven- tions, 'physical punishments, or the threat of them, must not be used. This includes smacking'. It added that childminders must never shake children in their care because this can cause brain damage.

NCMA chief executive Gill Haynes said, 'We are particularly pleased about the ban on smacking because it has finally been underpinned by law. As a result of our campaigns, children in every registered childcare setting in England will have the same protection from physical punishment that has existed in schools for many years.'

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