Registering an assistant
If you are a registered childminder and you want to work with someone who acts as your assistant then there is a procedure you need to follow.
Once you are happy that your assistant has the necessary skills and knowledge to work with you, your assistant needs to contact Ofsted to arrange a DBS (formerly CRB) check.
Completing an EY2 form
To do this, your assistant will need to complete an EY2 form -
Update - from 2014 all EY2 forms are now online -
Ofsted | Become a childcare provider or childminder.
You should warn your assistant that if they have any prior convictions these will show up on the DBS check. If they have any health problems Ofsted might delay registration while they investigate further, so your assistant must be honest and up front about anything that might prevent them from registering.
Business arrangements
You will also need to talk about payment, contracts and terms and conditions of employment including procedures for dismissal.
Suitability letter
When the DBS check has come through, assuming all is well, you and your assistant will receive a letter from Ofsted confirming they are suitable to work with children.
It is called a ‘suitability’ letter and, while the assistant can help you if they are FULLY supervised, they cannot work with children unsupervised until this letter is received - they are considered a visitor not an assistant.
Working with parents
Parents must give written permission to say they are happy with the assistant working with and being left alone for short periods of time with their child. You might find it useful to invite parents for a meeting with your assistant, to explain their role and responsibilities and to chat about any concerns they might have first.
Training your assistant
Ofsted expect you to make sure your assistant is fully briefed before they work with children. This means you should organise some induction training to cover, as a minimum, safeguarding; your daily procedures and routines; their role and responsibilities; your expectations about conduct, appropriate clothing; mobile phone, camera and social networking use; whistle blowing procedures; reading and understanding your policies and procedures etc.
Some local authorities require Local Safeguarding Children Board approved safeguarding training for assistants but not all - however, this is recommended.
Ongoing training is expected - you are responsible for the day-to-day supervision of your assistant and ensuring they work effectively with the children.
Leaving your assistant alone with children
Assistants MUST have an up-to-date 12 hour paediatric first aid certificate if they are left on their own with children. They can only be left alone with childminded children for up to 2 hours a day (this should be noted in an attendance register).
There are some sample forms to use with your assistant in Childminding Forum free resources here -
assistant forms
Assistants and changes to ratios
You MIGHT be able to make changes to your ratios once your assistant is working with you. You should check the relevant 'ratios' section of the EYFS 2012 for more information.
You will need to be aware of space requirements in your house and risk assessments must be robust if you change the conditions of your registration to accommodate extra children.
You can find out more information about the space requirements here -
Space Requirements - EYFS 2012
Notifying HMRC
Once you are working with your assistant, you should contact HMRC to clarify what you need to do regarding payment etc.
Further assistant requirements
There are other requirements for assistants - you will find them in the EYFS if you search (control and ‘f’) for ‘assistant’ and ‘staff’ - but these are the most important.
I hope this clarifies. If you have any further questions or if I have missed anything do not hesitate to ask
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