Ofsted publishes new guidance on reporting significant events

New guidance for childminders, nannies and other childcare providers on reporting significant events or changes to health has been published by Ofsted.

The guidance states that all Ofsted-registered childminders, nannies or daycare providers must report any significant events that might affect a person’s suitability to look after or be in regular contact with children, including certain changes to health.

Significant events should be reported as soon as reasonably practical but in any event within 14 days from the date the event occurred. This guidance applies to registered providers and also any adults living or working in a childminder’s home or any person associated with the registered childcare.

Examples of notifiable significant events that could affect the suitability of any person who cares for or is in regular contact with children could include:

• involvement with safeguarding partners and statutory agencies about incidents or concerns that might affect someone’s suitability, for instance child protection, welfare or safety

• the theft of a device containing children’s information

• an incident where a child or children may have been at risk of harm

• if an individual has been the victim of a crime that occurred on the childcare premises, such as assault, harassment or vandalism

• any incidents of domestic abuse

• any incidents of self-harm or overdose

• any one-off or ongoing incidents at or around the premises that may affect children such as incidents of violence, criminal or sexual exploitation and gangs, county lines activity, grooming, and child trafficking

• events that trigger increased anxiety, hardship or emotional problems (this might include bereavement, illness or injury).

The guidance also provides a long list of examples of notifiable health changes that might affect a person’s suitability to look after children, including:

• any condition that affects the physical ability to walk, balance, bend, kneel or lift a child

• any condition that makes an individual become confused or disorientated

• any condition that affects hearing in any way (after correction with a hearing device)

• any condition that affects eyesight in any way (after any lens correction)

• changes to mental health

• any condition that causes severe pain

• any condition that causes excessive drowsiness

• epilepsy or any other condition that causes blackouts, fits or fainting

• any heart problems

• diabetes.

The full list of health changes is available here. After reporting significant events and changes to health, Ofsted may contact providers to find out more information to ensure that settings are continuing to meet registration requirements.