THE NCMA GUIDE TO CHILDREN'S SAFETY

NCMA, £12.50 (£6.50 to NCMA members) www.ncma.org.uk

STAR RATING 5/5

Registered childminders and other home-based carers have long needed an authoritative guide that focuses on how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children in their care. And this NCMA publication is it, writes Wendi Turner.

Ofsted inspections require that registered childminders maintain the highest safety standards and demonstrate sound working practices. Concentrating on every aspect of child care safety, the book is in five sections: knowing what's safe; safety in the home and
garden; toys and equipment; out and about; and talking with children about safety.

Each chapter has safety footnotes highlighted to catch the eye along with thought-provoking statistical quotes, all of which emphasises the message that childhood accidents occur frequently and all too easily.

The opening section provides welcome guidance on risk assessment, fundamental to preventing accidents in the first place. Any childminder worth their salt must be safety-conscious and constantly on the lookout for risks and hazards for children.

With this in mind, the toys and equipment section provides a detailed and comprehensive list of commonly used equipment, such as cots and high chairs, outlining potential hazards and how to minimise risk. Even dummies come under scrutiny - a serious choking hazard if a worn one were to break up in a baby's mouth.

I would highly recommend this book as an essential addition to the bookshelf (alongside the first aid guide and NCMA national standards) for all childminders - and even vigilant parents!

Wendi Turner is a registered childminder