Elizabeth Hughes

1. To improve outcomes for children and support ongoing developments, the childminder should develop self-evaluation and improvement processes. This should include, but is not limited to: • identifying their strengths and potential developments • becoming familiar with best practice guidance to support them to reflect and plan for continuous improvement • maintaining relevant knowledge, skills and training to support children’s overall wellbeing. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes’ (HSCS 4.19).

2. To promote high aspirations for children and their families and support the childminder in providing a service that is well led, the childminder should develop a vision, values and aims. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘I am actively encouraged to be involved in improving the service I use, in a spirit of genuine partnership’ (HSCS 4.7) and ‘I use a service and organisation that are well led and managed’ (HSCS 4.23).

3. To ensure that quality assurance processes impact positively on outcomes for children, they should be developed to help identify and inform improvement. This should include, but is not limited to, • developing a calendar to support the childminder audit their service, for example, reviewing personal plans • updating policies and procedures in line with guidance and best practice • developing risk assessments to identify actions taken to minimise risks and consider risks when on outings in the community. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes' (HSCS 4.19) and 'I am actively encouraged to be involved in improving the service I use, in a spirit of genuine partnership' (HSCS 4.7).

1. To ensure play experiences challenge children, meet their interests and developmental needs, the childminder should develop their planning processes. This should include, but is not limited to: • recording observations of children’s play and learning to inform planning • identifying next steps to support children progress and achieve • recognising and celebrating children’s successes and achievements • developing a process where children can revisit and evaluate experiences. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘As a child, my social and physical skills, confidence and self-esteem and creativity are developed through a balance of organised and freely chosen extended play, including using open ended and natural materials’ (HSCS 1.31).

1. To maintain children’s health and wellbeing, the childminder should promote good hygiene practices and effective infection prevention control at key times. To ensure hand washing is effective, the childminder should encourage the use of soap and warm running water. This should include, but is not limited to: • before and after meals, and personal care • when undertaking personal care routines for example, maintaining children’s privacy and dignity and appropriate use of gloves and aprons. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'Any treatment or intervention that I experience is safe and effective' (HSCS 1.24).

2. To support and protect children’s wellbeing, the childminder should ensure detailed chronologies are in place to record significant events in children’s lives.

This should include, but is not limited to:

• recording dates and times of significant information related to children’s development/experiences • recording information shared from families and other professionals • identifying concerns or changes in behaviour.

This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that:

‘I am protected from harm, neglect, abuse, bullying and exploitation by people who have a clear understanding of their responsibilities’ (HSCS 3.20) and ‘I am listened to and taken seriously if I have a concern about the protection and safety of myself or others, with appropriate assessments and referrals made’ (HSCS 3.22).