Working as a childminder

To become a childminder you need to apply to OfSTED to be registered. If you act as a childminder without being registered, it could lead to prosecution.

Although you do not need any special qualifications to be a childminder, you are expected to attend a pre-registration briefing session arranged by your local authority where the registration process will be explained, and your questions answered. At the end  of this session, if you decide to apply, you will normally be given an application pack. You will then need to complete all the forms and send them to OfSTED .

In addition you will have to undertake registration courses, including first aid training, normally before you are registered. Your local authority will arrange these courses. Many local authorities and their Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships offer further training opportunities.

Through these, you can meet other childminders to share ideas and to improve the quality of your childminding.

Once you have sent in the forms, Ofsted will carry out some checks to help establish whether you, and any assistant that you may wish to employ, are suitable to look after children. These checks include ones about your health and any criminal record. All checks must be completed before you and any assistant can begin to look after children.

OfSTED will also carry out similar checks on any member of your household over the age of 16 to establish whether they are suitable to be in regular contact with the children you look after. As well as these checks, an Ofsted childcare inspector will visit your home to check whether it is suitable, safe and ready for children to be looked after. The inspector will also talk to you about how you will meet the National Standards for childminding.

You should contact Cheshire County Council for information and for the dates of pre-registration briefing sessions. They will also tell you about the information, advice and training it makes available and about its Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. Your local Children's Information Service ( CIS ) can give you information about childcare provision in your area.

 Further Information

OfSTED have a number of leaflets available to help you find out more about childminding as a career.

Childcarecareers Website (external link) - the Government's guide to careers in Childcare

You can find information about Childminding in Cheshire by visiting ther Children's Information Service website (external link)

Downloads

• Childminding: is it for you? (152Kb)
• Guide to registration for childminders (84Kb)
• Childminding standards (161kb)