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Childcare FAQ

February 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The following list of questions and answers may be useful to you whether you are interested in becoming a child carer, in need of a child carer for your family, or just have questions about the childcare industry in general:

What’s the difference between babysitter, nanny, au pair, and nursery assistant?

A babysitter is someone selected by a family or person to care for a child, and may or may not be fully qualified or experienced to do so. Individuals who provide childcare services to families in their own home are called “Nannies”. Nannies are trained sufficiently and meet basic childcare legal checks to be able to look after a child regardless of age. Nannies can register with Ofsted’s Voluntary General Childcare Register (vGCR).

An au pair may be aged between 18 to 30 and lives with a host family in a country that is not their home country and works as a live-in domestic assistant and child carer for the family. A nursery assistant or playworker works in a preschool setting providing early learning to children aged between three and four before they start compulsory school in the UK. Nursery assistants can do so under supervision or through relevant qualification in childcare and education.

What’s the difference between preschool and kindergarten?

“Preschool” means the same as “Nursery” or “Playgroup” in the UK and refers to the provision and delivery of education and development for children from birth to age five, before the start of compulsory education. Sometimes in the UK, the term “kindergarten” is used to describe a private or specialist type of “nursery” organisation where full-day child care is provided for parents who have career commitments. The preschool period is when children learn the fastest as they develop and discover new things. The foundation programme of preschool is sometimes termed FS1 and has an outlined curriculum for preschool children to follow.

Are there legal requirements to work in childcare?

Yes, under the Childcare Act of 2006, the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act of 2006, and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), there are specific legal requirements to work in childcare. These may include: Agencies and individuals who provide childcare can register with the UK Charity Commission as a means of meeting the legal requirements to operate within a childcare setting.

These legal checks include:

(a) Qualifications in the policies and procedures which they have in place for keeping children safe

(b) Other training such as in first aid

(c) Disclosure of Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) – enhanced CRB

(d) Public liability insurance where necessary

How do I become qualified to work in childcare?

There are two main routes to becoming qualified to work in childcare. One route may be through a supervision or apprenticeship scheme with an employer and another is through gaining qualification such as through the Children’s Care and Education Council (CACHE) – Certificate or Diploma in Childcare and Education.

Do I need qualifications to work in childcare?

Individuals working as babysitters and nannies do not need formal qualifications, but gaining qualification opens up employment opportunities and confidence in service.

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Childminders

February 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Childminders have specific childcare qualifications and in the UK are required to register with Ofsted to practice childcare if working in excess of two hours consecutively with children below the age of eight. Childminding involves caring for other people’s children in one’s home, similar to what is known as “family childcare”. The children are not related to the Childminder’s family and may range in age from babies to under age 18.

Home childcarers look after children of either one or two families/parents in their homes. Home carers may be compensated in kind instead of with money. Childminders may work with other childcare assistants and need to meet childcare requirements as outlined by Ofsted.

Registration on the Childcare Register with Ofsted is not mandatory if children are aged between eight and eighteen years. Further information can be obtained on the Ofsted website. Childminders are also responsible for the learning and development of the child or children in their care, such as Early Years Foundation.

Home childcarers look after children of either one or two families/parents in their homes. Home carers may be compensated in kind instead of with money. Childminders may work with other childcare assistants and need to meet childcare requirements as outlined by Ofsted.
Registration on the Childcare Register with Ofsted is not mandatory if children are aged between eight and eighteen years. Further information can be obtained on the Ofsted website. Childminders are also responsible for the learning and development of the child or children in their care, such as Early Years Foundation.

Qualifications of Childminders

In the UK, local authorities run courses for those interested in childminding. Information can also be obtained from Childcare Link and Ofsted. These childminding courses usually have to be completed within six months of registration with Ofsted.

An example course is the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce. These courses also provide training in setting up the childminding business from home. Childminders also have to have completed First Aid for children and need to be positively motivated to work with children. Keeping up to date with industry training is also important for this career in childcare.

Development and learning in Childminding

When children enter a childminding environment, it is very important for the child to engage in activities that allow for learning and development. Ofsted measure the childminding experience for the child and look for evidence to support positive results for the child’s development. How the service is organised and run to allow children to meet their full potential is vital. Childminding services are inspected by Ofsted to see how they operate. Childminders are also registered on the Early Years Register if applicable.

Developments in Childminding

During 2009, Ofsted were considering policing friends or neighbours of families that looked after the families’ children. This can be viewed as a fine line between “Babysitting” and “Childminding”.

The rules are now enforced through the Childminding and Early Foundation Years Registers, where, as mentioned, children under the age of eight in care for more than two hours with a “service” must apply for registration with Ofsted for the Childminding Register, and there is a fee to register. Notifying the local council through Childcare Link is a start.

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Finding a childcarer

September 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Nowadays many people working in care register with a childcare recruitment agency that specialise in their childcare interests. Prospective employers can approach agencies who have screened candidates and this can make the recruitment process and matching easier. Other options include placing a advert in the local paper or on a childcare recruitment website.

Interviewing for a Childcarer

When considering care for your child while on holiday or due to career commitments, there are a number of factors to think about. These may include:

  • The age of your child
  • The character, culture and language of your child / family
  • The child’s developmental needs (do they have special needs?)
  • The legal requirements for childcare
  • The financial afford
  • The duration of care
  • The location of care provision
  • The types of duties required

These factors are important in deciding on the type of care required and the skill set and experience of the carer. Likewise, those in the childcare profession need to think about factors that are important to them in their job role to find the right employment match.

Interviewing childcare candidates

Whatever method of finding a childcarer is used, there are interviewing techniques that can be used to assess candidate suitability. These interview techniques include:

  • Shortlist candidates based on qualifications, experiences and references provided
  • Create a list of relevant questions to use in phone interview, such as further details on qualifications, training, experiences and competencies, and questions to explore further in face-to-face interview
  • Identifying if the candidate is registered on the Ofsted vGCR or GCR, and if they have an enhanced CRB check
  • Meet with the candidate to discuss their feelings about their work, the environment, the level of care that they will be expected to care for
  • Discuss hours of work, flexibility, holidays, sickness, probation and pay rates
  • Lastly, allow the child to meet the candidate to work on an exercise to see if the match is right

Useful questions to ask child care candidates

The usual questions may include: “How long have you worked in childcare? Why do you choose to work in childcare? What activities have you done as a childcarer? What age groups have you worked with?” and so on. However, asking questions that require critical thinking responses and in-depth information on how the childcarer may react in certain circumstances can give vital feedback on their own behavioural patterns. Such questions may include:

  • Give an example of a challenging child you have worked with, and how your resolved the issue.
  • Give an example of a problem with a parent that you experienced and what you did about it.
  • What do you enjoy most and least about working in childcare?
  • What do you think are your particular strengths and weaknesses are when working with children?
  • What discipline strategies do you use if a child misbehaves?
  • What are your plans as a childcarer for the future?
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Qualifications in Childcare

August 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Depending on the level of childcare role, qualifications in childcare may vary from no formal training to awards, such as those through the Children’s Care and Education Council (CACHE). Such qualifications may include:

  • Certificate or Diploma in Childcare and Education (Childminders and those working with children who have special needs or disabilities)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare (Childminders and Nannies)
  • BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Early Years (for a range of childcare career opportunities)

Colleges and universities also offer degree level courses in childcare and child development. Some courses are available through Social Sciences departments and others through Psychology departments. Each career level in childcare requires a certain level of education that is usually specified through the job description or person specification of an advertised vacancy. Individuals interested in childcare careers can research the educational requirements by looking at the type of childcare job that they are interested in doing.

The following roles in childcare and educational requirements may be used as a guide:

  • Babysitter – no qualifications or voluntary achievement of qualifications such as through CACHE
  • Nanny – no qualifications or basic childcare skills with first aid, and voluntary registration with Ofsted vGCR; or certificate/diploma in Childcare and Education such as through CACHE
  • Childminder – usually CACHE certificate or diploma in Childcare and Education or equivalent; registration with Ofsted GCR compulsory depending on scope of service; basic childcare skills required with first aid; enhanced CRB and public liability insurance
  • Nursery Assistant – supervised job role or Level 2 qualification in early years care and education to work with babies from birth to age five
  • Playworker – usually CACHE or equivalent Level 2 qualifications in Playwork to work with children aged 4 to16 or supervised job role while in training

Other training in childcare

Although formal training in childcare, such as through CACHE, is recommended, other training, such as in first aid, communication and child development is needed for good practice.

Childcare qualifications and age groups

Usually nannies or childminders are used to care for children from birth to age five. Some families opt to use Sure Start Children Centres to gain support, advice, early learning, training, and short to long-term childcare. Further information is available through the Family Information Service (FIS).

Childcare needs do change with the age of the child. From age five through to eleven, children usually have started nursery and then school with activities, such as sports. Some schools offer extended services, however parents may need help from a childminder or nanny if they are unable to care for their child at certain times due to commitments. Child carers who care for children aged five to seven must register for Early Years Register (EYR) with Ofsted and are required to provide standards for early learning, development and care through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). If caring for children eight or over, the registration is voluntary. Children aged eleven to sixteen are in the start and mid of adolescence. This group can be challenging to care for, and some parents rely on the help of nannies or childcarers to continue the positive growth of their teens.

Registration after qualification in childcare

If you are interested in working as a Nanny or a Babysitter, registration with Ofsted’s General Childcare Register (GCR) is not mandatory but can be voluntary through their Voluntary General Childcare Register (vGCR) started in 2007. The benchmark for compulsory registration on the General Childcare Register is also based on the age of the child. Care for children aged five or over to age seven requires compulsory registration, while care for children aged eight or over may be voluntary. Childminders and those in the Supervisory or Managerial capacity of childcare are usually required to register with Ofsted on the General Childcare Register.

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Careers in Childcare

July 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

To start a career in childcare, individuals need to feel positively motivated to work with children and their families. Some people do view a career in childcare as an option after life-changing experiences. People have different reasons for choosing childcare as career. There are specific requirements for careers in childcare, such as:

  • Skills to help children develop
  • Knowledge of health and safety
  • Training in childcare
  • Choosing a type of childcare
  • Registering, such as with Ofsted, where required
  • Understanding laws for childcare

With the need for people to work, have help with they are sick, and so on, there is always a need for people with childcare skills and experience. People interested in childcare can start by asking themselves honest questions.

Questions for a career in childcare

Those wanting to pursue a career in childcare can start by asking themselves questions such as these to consider the possible answers:

  • Is there any reason that I should not work with children?
  • Or, am I a suitable person to work with children?
  • What skills and experiences do I already have that can transfer to childcare?
  • What age group of children do I want to care for?
  • What are the opportunities for childcare in this age group?
  • Do I want to have my own business or register with an Agency/Employer?
  • What training is required for this specific type of childcare?
  • Do I want to study full time or part time in childcare?
  • Are there development opportunities in this field of childcare?
  • Who can I talk to about my interest in a career in childcare?
  • Where do I start in childcare and where do I hope my childcare career will lead me?

People with addictive behaviours, which could put children at risk, or criminal records that are unspent or relate to abuse of children are usually not considered for opportunities in childcare.

Each type of childcare comes with different responsibilities and skills. Opportunities in the UK exist from Babysitting, working as nannies, to working in day centres, nurseries, schools, childminding, and in playgroups. Childcare not only involves ensuring the child is safe at all times, but also the development of the child’s skills. Qualifications required differ depending on the role.

Training in childcare, depending on the role, can be obtained through the local authority in the UK or through colleges and universities. Some people opt for full time study in childcare, while part time study is suitable for others. Studies may be for an NVQ or BTEC in childcare, or certificates in psychology or child development. There are also courses leading to diploma or degree. On the job training may also be an option with certain employers, agencies or providers.

Career opportunities in childcare

Opportunities to develop a career in childcare range from entry level to assistant level to supervisor and to managerial level, depending on the type of childcare role. Entry level may be Babysitter or Childcare Volunteer; Assistant level may be a Nursery Assistant or Playwork Assistant; Supervisor may be a Nursery Nurse, Nanny, Childminder, or Disability / Special Needs Worker; and Managerial level may be a Development Worker or Childcare Coordinator. For each level of career opportunity, additional training and qualification is required.

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Preschool or nursery

May 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

“Preschool” means the same as “Nursery” or “Playgroup” in the UK and refers to the provision and delivery of education and development for children from birth to age five, before the start of compulsory education. The term “Kindergarten” means the same and was first used by a German educationalist named Friedrich FrÖbel in the early 1800′s; however is not used as commonly in the UK to describe preschool.

Sometimes in the UK, the term “kindergarten” is used to describe a private or specialist type of “nursery” organisation where full-day child care is provided for parents who have career commitments. The preschool period is when children learn the fastest as they develop and discover new things. The foundation programme of preschool is sometimes termed FS1 and has an outlined curriculum for preschool children to follow.

Why preschool or kindergarten?

The goal is to allow children of preschool age to explore as much as possible as part of their developmental learning. Preschool educationalists strive to improve best practice in such environments to allow children to grow personally, emotionally and socially.

People working in childcare preschool settings have an influence on how these children grow and develop as a foundation for the rest of their lives. For this reason, the UK government has placed an emphasis on early learning with a child-centred approach.

Primary schools and preschool

Certain government primary schools offer preschool as an additional service if financed by the government for children from age three onwards. Otherwise, preschools are also available through private sector or voluntary funding. The services provided may include planned pre-school learning and a provision for child-minding facilities. Each local education authority may develop different policies related to preschool activities. After completing preschool, children in the UK enter compulsory schooling through a process known as “reception”.

Provision of preschool education

Pre-school education may also be delivered through childcare centres, playgroups, nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools. In the UK, preschool education is funded by local councils and each child is entitled to five two-and-a-half lessons per week. The Department for Children, Schools and Families produce early learning goals for the education of children between age three and four before starting Primary School. Preschool children are educated in their knowledge and understanding of the world, their ways of communicating, their creativity, their physical and cognitive development, language, literacy, and numeracy / mathematics and also their ability to cope and help themselves.

Working in a preschool / kindergarten setting

To work as a nursery assistant, playworker, or a childminder, carries responsibility in safeguarding the wellbeing and also the education of the child. For this reason, assistants either need to work under supervision through modern apprenticeships or meet minimum standards in qualification, such as a Foundation Award in Caring for Children (CACHE) or Level 2 Certificate in Child Care and Education (CACHE). Other bodies offering educational qualifications include EDEXCEL, C&G and NCFE. Career prospects include working for voluntary or community groups, hospitals, local authority organisations, schools, colleges and private businesses.

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