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What is a childminder?

A childminder is a person registered to look after one or more children under the age of 8 years, to whom they are not related, in their own home, for reward, and for a total of more than two hours in any day.

The role of a childminder includes:

  • offering the children a secure and stimulating environment
  • providing early years education to prepare children to start school
  • being self-employed
  • working in their own home
  • choosing the hours they work and the services they provide
  • being able to care for their own children at the same time, if they have a family
  • having a career where no two days are the same.

What you have to do to become registered:

  • You will need to apply to OFSTED or a childminder agency.
  • You will need to ensure you have knowledge as stated in the Common Core of Skills, if you apply to go on the voluntary part of the register.
  • You will have to demonstrate how you will provide care and education for all minded children as stated in the Early Years Foundation Stage
  • You must attend a 12 hour Paediatric First Aid training course.
  • You must ensure you are fully aware of local and national safeguarding responsibilities and guidelines and attend a safeguarding training course.

Finances

There will be some initial costs, such as buying safety equipment and toys. There will also be the Ofsted registration cost and annual registration fee.

Others costs to be taken into consideration include Public Liability Insurance, Business class car insurance, Ofsted required health check, first aid training and other training courses to support working knowledge and practice.

A childminder is a self-employed person and as such, will be responsible for paying their own tax and National Insurance contributions. Business records and details of income must be kept so that an annual Self-Assessment Tax Return can be completed.

Childminder businesses must be registered with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This must be done within timescales set by HMRC.

Childminder startup grant

This grant is for new childminders that have registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency after 15 March 2023 and are working in England. You must apply for this grant within two months of your registration date. For those registered with Ofsted you can claim up to £600 to help towards the costs of setting up your business. For those registered with a Childminder agency you can claim up to £1200 bearing in mind that part of the grant may go towards the agency costs.

Apply for a childminder start-up grant (GOV.UK).

Ofsted

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.

Ofsted are responsible for regulating and inspecting a range of early years services, making sure they’re suitable for children. Ofsted will publish reports of the findings so they can be used to improve the overall quality of childcare.

Ofsted registers

There are two registers you can apply for:

Early Years Register

This register is for providers who will care for children from birth to the 31 August following their fifth birthday.

Providers on this register must meet the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Childcare Register

The Childcare Register is for providers who care for children from birth to 17 years. It has two parts:

  • the compulsory part - providers must register if they care for one more children following their fifth birthday until they reach their eighth birthday.
  • the voluntary part - providers who are not required to register on the compulsory part may choose to register here. These are mainly people looking after children aged eight and over, or providing care in the child's own home like a nanny.

Childminder agencies

Childminder agencies (CMAs) are organisations that can register and quality assure childminders and providers of ‘childcare on domestic premises’ as an alternative to registering with Ofsted.

The CMA will carry out annual quality assurance visits (planned or unannounced), support and offer continuous professional development. This will be 20 hours of practice support a year of which 16 hours must be CPD.

Plymouth Early Years Team

Plymouth Early Years is available to support you throughout your journey to become a childminder. When you submit your initial enquiry, someone will contact you.

For those with no previous experience we offer a training pathway that will discuss the following:

  • how to register with Ofsted
  • how to risk assess your environment
  • the Learning and Development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for childminders
  • the Safeguarding and Welfare requirements
  • you will also be signposted to essential training such as food hygiene and safeguarding and other training requirements

Once you have registered, the Early Years Team will support you as a newly registered childminder. You will have access to a wide variety of resources and advice from an experienced, highly qualified and dedicated team.

To explore the training pathway to becoming a childminder that aligns with your individual requirements, please complete the enquiry form. If you would like advice and further information contact the Early Years Team on 01752 307400 or email childminding@plymouth.gov.uk.

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