Need to know:
Your assistant cannot start working with you until they are fully registered.
Once fully registered, your assistant can be alone with children for up to a maximum of two hours (with parental permission). However, if your assistant is under 18, they must not be left alone with children at any time.
If you are working with an assistant and taking on more children, you must still adhere to the space requirements set out in the EYFS.
You must inform tiney of any changes in your assistant’s circumstances such as change of name or address. Similarly, if a tiney assistant leaves your setting, you must let us know.
Assistant requirements:
Your assistant must be at least 17 years old when their application starts
What qualities/qualifications does my assistant need to have?
Sufficient understanding and use of English to ensure the well-being of children in your tiney home - for example they must be able to keep records in English and summon emergency help.
No specific qualifications or experience are required to become an assistant, although both are valuable and strongly recommended.
EYFS requirements:
Once your assistant is registered, your ratios double. You can read more about ratios here
You must still adhere to the EYFS space requirements as follows:
3.5 m² per child for children under two year
2.5 m² per child for two-year-olds
2.3 m² per child for children aged three to five years
If you employ assistants, you must obtain written references before they start work.
The following criteria must be met:
References must come from a senior individual (not a family member) at the candidate’s most recent employer, training provider, or education setting.
Electronic references must originate from a legitimate source.
For more details, please review the Safer Recruitment section of this document: https://assets.ctfassets.net/889j3qro40br/rlEGaQFhZbOK9v6c4q2yu/e68e563e568f41169e4e73600a71fc5b/tiney_s_guide_to_supporting_Childminders_with_planned_changes_to_the_EYFS.pdf
How to register your assistant:
You can read our registration process detailed here
The childminder must | The assistant will | tiney will |
1. Send over assistant’s details to tiney & complete the form in the app | 3. Apply for DBS checks | 6. Run additional background checks through your Local Authority |
2. Read the guide to having a tiney assistant | 4. Complete first aid training |
|
3. Collect references for assistant | 5. Complete safeguarding training |
|
Being an employer – what are your responsibilities?
You must set up an employment contract for your assistant. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/register-employer
You must also register as an employer and understand what employee rights you are required to provide. You can read more about this here: https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-to-employ-someone
You must ensure that their DBS check and First Aid certificate are renewed at least every three years.
If your assistant is taking on Key Person responsibilities, you’ll need to find out about their interests and experience in childcare beforehand.
Your assistant must also be familiar with your policies, procedures, and risk assessments.
You will need to assess the quality of their work and provide appropriate training.
Insurance:
Your assistant is covered by your insurance
You are required to display your Employers' Liability Certificate once your first assistant is registered. This will be checked at your Quality Assurance visit.
You can find your Employers' Liability Certificate in the app in the menu section (top right-hand corner of the home section). If you have any issues with this, please contact the team.
Planning permission:
You may need planning permission from your local authority if you plan on recruiting an assistant and taking on additional children. Please contact your local planning team to confirm if this is something they require.
If you are recruiting more than one assistant, your chances of needing planning permission increase. Please check for each assistant you plan on recruiting.
Having your assistant on the tiney app:
Once your assistant is registered, we can create a dedicated login which gives them partial access to your account. You can request this as soon as your assistant’s registration letter is sent to you.
Your assistant will be able to access the following in their app:
Care schedules
Child registers
Child Passports
Learning Journal
Guardian messages
Training/CPD
Your assistant will not have access to:
The wallet
Children's contracts
Whilst it’s not mandatory for your assistant(s) to have a tiney app account it is highly encouraged as best practice.
FAQ’s
What’s the difference between an assistant and a volunteer?
If your assistant is working with you on a voluntary basis, you would not need to register as an employer with HMRC (as you won't be paying them). However, you will still need to register them fully in line with Tiney’s assistant registration process, and you will need to display your Employers' Liability Certificate once they are fully registered.
Can I hire an apprentice?
Yes, you can. They should still complete all the Tiney assistant registration tasks as per the process, but must also be actively enrolled in an official and confirmed apprenticeship, and provide confirmation or evidence of this.
How long do Local Authority checks take to come back, and does tiney chase them?
On average, it takes 6 to 8 weeks for Local Authority checks to come back. However, it can take up to five months depending on your local authority. If your prospective assistant lives with you, we’ll already have this information. Tiney will chase outstanding checks every four weeks.
What are known to Ofsted checks and how long do they take to come back?
A "known to Ofsted" check is a background check which confirms whether the assistant onboarding is "known" to Ofsted and to ensure that any individual working is suitable. These take around six-eight weeks to be returned
Does my assistant have to do their First Aid training with Tiney’s provider, Tigerlily?
No. Provided that the course is a full or blended 12-hour Paediatric First Aid course, includes a practical element, and meets EYFS requirements, it is fine to use an alternative provider.