Becoming a childminder

Registered Childminders are professional childcarers who work in their own homes to provide care and education for other people’s children. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted.

Registered Childminders are self-employed and are responsible for their own tax and National Insurance. They are not “employed” by parents but negotiate a contract for their service, for which they charge a fee. It's important to remember that all Childminders need to have an inclusion policy that ensures that every child’s individual needs are met.

Childminding is a rewarding career and provides opportunities for developing new skills and qualifications.

Childminding provides you with the opportunity to:

• contribute to a childs learning and development
• run your own business
• work from home
• provide a valuable service for your local community
• develop new knowledge and skills

It's a big decision to become a Childminder so it's important you have all the facts and make an informed decision. To help you to do this:

• watch our online videos which give you an introduction to childminding, requirements for childminding and information on costs
• book onto a free information session. All sessions are delivered online via Zoom. Alternatively, for more information email: [email protected].

Prospective Childminders may also need to complete an initial Childminder Training Course before registering with Ofsted. This can be undertaken online through various providers. Book onto a free information session for further details.

See what skills are required by childminders, view a sample job description and find answers to common questions about becoming a childminder.

Setting up a business

You should research the business case for becoming a childminder in your locality.

To help you make an informed decision we have provided some information to assist you assess, demand and view typical childcare costs by locality.

The HMRC have produced an online elearning package for childminders. It explains and guides you through everything you need to know to get started. There are some useful tips from others who have been where you are now, just starting and needing some help. You can work through the course at your own pace and at a time that suits you best. It takes some people between 1 and 2 hours to complete, but you don't need to do it all in one go. You can dip in and out as often as you like. HMRC have also created a number of short YouTube videos on setting up a business and also host webinars on YouTube about this topic. You can also use their self-employed ready reckoner to budget for your Self Assessment tax bill.

Software companies have developed apps for record keeping which may help you when setting up your own business.

Local support

The Quality Improvement Team can offer support and advice pre-registration.

Local training providers

View a list of local training providers who offer childcare related qualifications.