Recent Ofsted reports have identified poor recruitment and suitability check processes as significant factors leading to ineffective safeguarding. This automatically results in an inadequate overall judgment. Further actions have identified gaps in staff support, supervision and training for staff for both groupcare and childminder settings.

Safe recruitment practices together with ongoing staff support and supervision through regular team meetings, 1:1s, appraisals and inductions are key to ensuring highly effective and meaningful engagement between staff and managers, including childminding assistants and childminders. It also provides an essential opportunity for leaders and staff to identify training needs, prioritise staff wellbeing, discuss concerns confidentially and to offer guidance within the role.

Good staff management is vital to ensuring children are kept safe but also that their learning and development needs are met by committed, skilled and motivated staff.

The training will cover:-

• Safer recruitment procedures and policies
• Robust probationary and induction period
• Effective team meetings
• The role and format of 1:1s and ways to implement them
• Conducting an appraisal
• Having difficult conversations
• Managing expectations and balancing staff needs
• Staff wellbeing and workloads

This training will be interactive and an opportunity to share best practice and common issues.

PVIs and Childminders - managers, deputy managers and room leaders