The national standards for under-eights daycare and childminding south of the border, introduced in 2001, allowed childminders to smack and smoke if they had parents' written consent.
The new rules for childminders will be introduced as part of a review of the national standards and will be implemented from September 2003.
Announcing the review earlier this month, Sure Start minister Catherine Ashton said, '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.'
National Childminding Association chief executive Gill Haynes said, 'We are delighted that the Government has now listened to the views of childminders on these extremely important issues.'
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