Interested in becoming a childminder

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A childminder is an OFSTED-registered person who works in their own home caring for children from birth onwards. They are regularly inspected by childcare inspectors from the Early Years Directorate of OFSTED, and work to the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Registers, as laid down by the Department for Education (DfE). They must have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Check, complete a First Aid course and a pre-registration childminding course be in good health and have demonstrated that they are a suitable person to look after children. They must also be able to actively contribute to children's development and learning in the early years.

A childminder’s home will also need to meet strict safety checks and the childminder must have public liability insurance in place, in addition to appropriate home and motor insurance. All registered childminders on the Early Years Register are graded outstanding, good, satisfactory or inadequate when inspected and parents/carers can ask to read these reports during their initial visit. On the Childcare Registers, childminders are graded as Met the requirements or Not Met the requirements. Inspection reports and Conditions of Registration for each registered childminder are also available to view on the OFSTED website.

Is it for me?

Childminders come from all walks of life. Many parents find it an ideal career while their own children are young; others come into the profession later in their working life. Childminders enjoy the flexibility of being able to run their own business, choose their working hours and the benefits of working from home.

You will need to enjoy working with children and parents, be patient, imaginative and have the ability to run your own business. There is also the need for further training regarding the Early Years Foundation Stage and other childcare related subjects such as Safeguarding. Information can be found on the OFSTED website and on the Department for Education website.

If you would like more information on how to register as a childminder, or would like to know when the next pre-registration courses are running, please contact the Childcare Team (details on the left of this page).

Who needs to be registered?

If you intend to look after other people's children under the age of eight years in your own home for reward then you must be registered with OFSTED. Registration will also mean parents and carers you work for will be able to claim the childcare element of the working families tax credit.

You do not need to register if you care for children:

• for less than two hours in total per day or
• the child is a relative (for example a grandchild, niece or nephew)
• the child is aged eight years or over
• you are fostering the child or have parental responsibility for them
• you are looking after the child in their own home (a nanny).
• you look after the child between the hours of 6.00pm and 2.00am only (babysitting).
• you provide home education for a child.

Important

If you are looking after children aged eight years or over, or are a nanny, Wiltshire Council strongly advises you to register on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. By joining this register providers show parents and carers who use their service that they:

• meet certain requirements relating to people, premises and provision designed to safeguard children;
• are monitored through inspections carried out by OFSTED on a random basis or as a result of concern expressed by parents or carers to OFSTED about the care.

In addition to the above you will be given a registration number enabling eligible parents and carers to claim the childcare element of the Working Families Tax Credit. 

Support offered to childminders by Wiltshire Council

Wiltshire Council’s Childcare Team supports childminders from enquiry, through registration, once registered and for the length of their career. Dedicated Childcare Officers can offer advice, support, guidance, and training on childminding matters both relating to the children, and to running your business. Childcare Officers will arrange to visit you in your registered home setting to offer this service.

On-going training opportunities are regularly offered, enabling ongoing professional development for the childminder. A Quality Assurance scheme is run through the Childcare Team, and through this, accredited childminders are able to offer the Free Entitlement to children, giving parents choice of where to access this. There are also opportunities for childminders to work with families with children with difficulties and disabilities, supporting working parents, and offering breaks and respite care. For further information on this, please contact the Childcare Team

Related documents

• Example of a well-run childminding group 47kb

Last updated: 10 May 2012