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Childminders will not be allowed to smack children in their care, or to smoke in front of them, under  new standards to be issued by the government.

The Department for Education and Skills today announced that the new childminding and day care standards which would bring childminders into line with other day care providers will also allow childminders with appropriate training and experience to look after more than one child under age one.

 It cause great controversy and concern when the professional standards introduced in 2001 banned smacking and smoking in all day care settings but allowed childminders to smack or smoke in front of children, if they had written consent from parents.  The move is part of the government’s strategy to build a childcare workforce capable of meeting the demands of its own policy agenda. Consultation will take place in the early summer on the detailed regulations on the proposed changes, which will be introduced from September 2003.

Cathy Ashton, minister for Sure Start, said the government was considering registering nannies though she said there are no immediate plans to do so. She said, “Having listened to parents and childminders associations, we have decided to bring the standards for childminders into line with other childcare professionals. It makes sense that all professionals looking after children are subject to the same rules and that parents have access to the same consistent standards whether their child is looked after by a childminder or at a nursery.

“It is important that we acknowledge the professionalism of childminders who do such a valuable job in supporting our children by giving them standards equal to those of other childcare professionals. This will raise the status of childminders, which in turn will help us recruit more and help parents to access good quality childcare.”