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Childminding can be an excellent career choice for those who would like to work from home and are interested in working with children. It’s far more than being a babysitter because childminders are childcare professionals, but it is possible to choose when you work and how you manage your childminding business, and formal qualifications are not needed.

If you are paid to look after children under 8 years of age, for more than 2 hours a day, you need to register with Ofsted or a childminding agency. You can also register voluntarily if you want to.

Before registering you will need to apply for a criminal records check, complete a health declaration and ask your GP to sign it, and complete a paediatric first aid course.  You will also need to show Ofsted or the childminding agency that you can meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which is the statutory framework for those working with the under-fives. 

What we can do to help?

´óÐãÊÓƵ County Council do not employ childminders directly however we can provide advice, support and training for those wanting to set up as a childminder. 

In ´óÐãÊÓƵ, Education Services do this on our behalf. They provide initial information and guidance, support with registration, a variety of training courses and ongoing support once you are registered, including cluster meetings where you could get to know other childminders.

Education Services becoming a childminder

Early years safeguarding provide a range of services to help you meet regulatory requirements and keep children safe, including safeguarding training, consultancy support in the setting, supervision for DSL’s and evaluation of setting policy and practice.

Early years safeguarding

The Early Years Team works with early years and childcare settings in ´óÐãÊÓƵ to ensure all children access high quality early years education and care to support individual children to achieve their maximum potential in learning and development.

Early Years Service

The Fair Access and Exclusions Team provides support for children and young people, parents/carers, school leaders, governing bodies and other professionals with exclusions and ensuring pupil receive a suitable education.

Fair Access and Exclusions

The Safeguarding team supports teachers and education professionals to fulfil their responsibility to safeguard and promote welfare effectively.

Safeguarding team