Traci’s Childminding Service
Recorded Key Question grade range: 3 — Adequate View on Care Inspectorate
Key Question scores
Requirements & recommendations
1. By 1 August 2026, the provider must develop, use, review and update risk assessments where appropriate for the home, garden and any community spaces used by children. To do this, the provider must, at a minimum: Implement risk assessments consistently in practice and update them in response to emerging issues or changes. Ensure that environmental factors, including temperature and the safe use of all areas, are appropriately considered and managed. Involve children, where appropriate, in discussions about risk to support their understanding of how to keep themselves safe. This is to comply with regulation 4 (1) (a) of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI2011/210). This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: " I use a
1. The childminder should further strengthen systems for self-evaluation, quality assurance and improvement planning that lead to measurable improvements in children's play, care, experiences and outcomes. In particular, the childminder should make use of information from daily practice, including children’s views, accidents and incidents and risk assessments, to identify patterns, reduce risk and adapt routines relating to children's interests and needs. 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).
2. To ensure compliance with regulatory responsibilities and enable partnership working that supports positive outcomes for children, the childminder should ensure that their current registration certificate is always displayed. The childminder should update their knowledge and understanding about their regulatory responsibilities under the 'Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.' This includes the notifications that should be made to the Care Inspectorate in line with 'Guidance on records you must keep and notifications you must make (early learning and childcare services, including childminders)' Care Inspectorate (2025). This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which states that: " I use a service and organisation that are well led and managed (HSCS 4.23)' and, "I experience high-quality care and support based on relevant evidence, guidance and best practice." (4.11).
1. The childminder should ensure practice is fully aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1992), particularly children’s right to express their views and have them taken seriously. Children’s wishes, cues and preferences should be consistently listened to and acted upon, enabling them to influence decisions about their play, routines and use of space. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: " As a child, I can direct my own play and activities in the way that I choose, and freely access a wide range of experiences and resources suitable for my age and stage, which stimulate my natural curiosity, learning and creativity" (HSCS 2.27), and, "As a child, my social and physical skills, confidence, self-esteem and creativity are developed through a balance of organised and freely chosen extended play, including
1. The childminder should ensure a more consistent, responsive approach to meeting children’s care and wellbeing needs throughout the day. This may include, but is not limited to: planning to ensure consistent access to food, drinks, shade and sun protection providing opportunities for rest and quieter experiences supporting safe, relaxed snack and mealtimes maintaining children’s dignity and wellbeing in toileting and hygiene. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: " I can maintain and develop my interests, activities and what matters to me in the way that I like (HSCS 2.22) and, "I can enjoy unhurried snack and meal times in as relaxed an atmosphere as possible." (HSCS 1.35).
2. The childminder should strengthen personal planning to support them to provide individualised, consistent care for children. This would ensure the childminder could stay up to date and review children's needs more effectively over time. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: " My personal plan (sometimes referred to as a care plan) is right for me because it sets out how my needs will be met, as well as my wishes and choices." (HSCS 1.15).