Becoming a Childminder

Childminders can be men or women and come from all communities.

Childminding offers you the opportunity to:

• work in your own home
• choose the hours you work
• combine paid work with looking after your own children
• develop your career through training
• gain a professional qualification.

As a childminder, you will be:

• self-employed
• responsible for your own tax and national insurance
• running a small childcare business from your home.

Getting Started

The Childminding Information Officer runs information sessions about how to get started, in local children's centres.

You will also have to attend a pre-registration briefing session where you will receive the Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) application form and information about the Early Years Foundation Stage. To become a registered childminder, you will need to apply to Ofsted and meet the the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Childminders are registered and inspected under the Childcare Act 2006 by Ofsted .

To book onto an information session or a pre-registration briefing session, please call FIS on 020 7527 5959 or for further information please contact the Childminding Information Officer on 020 7527 5927.

Number of Children

The number of children you can look after will depend on the number and ages of children in your own household and the amount of space you have.

The maximum number of children you could look after is six, including your own.

Earnings

There is no set rate for childminding.

As a childminder, you:

• agree the rate with the parent or carer based on the type of service required
• can claim some of your expenses against tax
• can retain some of your benefits.

Qualifications

At present, no formal qualifications are needed to become a childminder, but you must have a current paediatric first aid certificate and complete an introductory training course approved by the local authority. The course is called 'Understand how to set up a home-based childcare service' and is an optional unit (Unit CYPOP5) of the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce. You will receive more information about training when you attend the pre-registration briefing.

You should also:

• have an understanding of how children learn and develop
• feel capable of respecting the individual needs of children from different backgrounds
• offer children a safe and stimulating play environment
• enjoy looking after children
• be prepared to offer a quality childminding service.