Childminding
Childminders look after children in their own home. They have to register with Ofsted and follow national guidelines. Childminders are self-employed and have to be 18 years or older.
Registered childminders:
- look after at least one child under the age of 8 for more than two hours a day - normally in their own home
- are registered on the Ofsted Childcare Register to demonstrate the quality and standards of the care they provide
- are self-employed, run their own business and provide a valuable service to children and their families.
To apply you need to...
- attend the free pre-registration briefing, where you will find out about becoming a childminder. To book a place call 01934 426 300.
- complete the Ofsted application form and return it with the application fee to Ofsted's National Business Unit in Manchester
- be visited by an Ofsted inspector to make sure both you and your home are safe and suitable to care for young children. You may need to make some adaptations, such as fitting safety gates.
- have a medical check
- have completed a 12 hour paediatric first-aid course at time of registration.
- complete an Introduction to Home-based Childminding Course:-
- successful completion of this course must take place no more than 6 months prior to application for registration or 6 months after date of registration. These courses are run by Weston College. This course is one module of the level 3 diploma in Children and Young people's workforce.
- should you successfully complete the course, apply to register within 6 months, then withdraw your application and reapply at a later date, if this date is more than 6 months after you passed the course you will be required to do the course again.
- if you used to be a childminder and now wish to reapply, and if it is more than 6 months since you successfully completed the course you will need to re-do it.
- register with Environmental Health as a food business
- obtain clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau for yourself and anyone else in your home aged over 16.
Once you have received your Ofsted registration certificate, you can start work as a childminder.
North Somerset Family Information Service can help you promote your business through the Family Information Service Directory. You will be supported throughout your career as a childminder by a team of dedicated professionals.