Interested in being a childminder?

If you can answer yes to these questions then Childminding could be a career for you:

• do you like looking after children and prepared to provide a safe, stimulating environment where you can progress children's development?
• do you want to play a key role as children grow up, working in partnership with children, parents/carers/other professionals?
• are you interested in becoming a self-employed professional childcare practitioner working in your own home and interested in continuing professional development?
• are you prepared to develop policies and procedures for your business?
• childminders sometimes offer unsociable hours and/or overnight care, is this something you would consider?
• childminders care for children with difficulties and disabilities, is this something you would consider?

You will need to register with Ofsted or a childminder agency if:

• you are going to be paid to look after children under 8
• you are caring for them for more than 2 hours in one day
• you look after them in your own home

If you do not register you could be fined. Parents benefit from registered childcare provision if they are eligible for Government help with childcare costs for parents.

Ofsted registration

There is guidance for childminders (opens new window) on when/if you need to register.

There are two Ofsted registers:

• The early years register if you are caring for children from birth though to 31 August after their fifth birthday
• The childcare register: Compulsory part - if caring for children from 1 September after the child's fifth birthday until their eight birthday; Voluntary part - if looking after children over the age of 8, or if you chose to register e.g. a nanny

Ofsted registered Childminder Agencies

You can choose to register with a childminder agency rather than directly with Ofsted. 

• GOV.UK: Guidance - List of childminder agencies (opens new window)

Once registered:

• you may look after up to six children under eight, including your own
• no more than three of the six children should be under five
• normally no more than one child can be under one

If you only want to look after children aged eight or over you do not have to become registered. You may then wish to join the Voluntary Childcare Register (VCR)

Wiltshire Council has information about supply and demand for childcare in our Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Report and each local area has its own community plan.

Find out more about the Childcare sufficiency assessment.

Training and support can be found across several organisations: 

• Review the pre-registration briefing for those wishing to become childminders (opens new window)
• Childcare training - complete an introduction to childminding training course if you do not have a childcare qualification.  (Wiltshire Council offer an online Introduction to Childminding Practice - ICP course - more information about this course is available under Qualifications and training.) You need to ensure you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (opens new window) to meet Ofsted registration requirements. 
• First aid training. Review training providers on Qualifications and training
• All childminders are encouraged to regularly attend professional development opportunities, these are often a great chance to network with other childminders
• Monthly training newsletters are available on Qualifications and training
• Pre-registration support is available to support your journey to become a childminder in Wiltshire to provide a quality setting
• Once registered as a childminder further support and advice is provided to all childminders around safeguarding and children with additional needs and with less than good Ofsted judgment
• You may also be interested to view Pacey's Business Smart website (opens new window) developed by childminders for childminders. It is a collection of ideas, inspiration and tools to help new and existing childminders in England develop a sustainable business
• There are a number of national professional bodies who offer services for childminders, such as insurance and online training
• Childminders who complete their registration between 15 March 2023 and 31 March 2025 can apply for a start-up grant.  If you registered with Ofsted, you'll get £600; a Childminder Agency, you'll get 2 payments totalling £1,200 (£600 when you register and £600 when you start childminding your first child within 6 months of registering).  To apply, visit Childminder start-up grants scheme (opens new window).

HMRC have produced an online learning package for childminders (opens new window) 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 one and two 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.

There are costs involved to become a childminder, this list may not be exhaustive: 

• Childminder introduction training course is currently between £150 and £200 (Wiltshire's online course costs £165 - more information available under Qualifications and training)
• Ofsted registration fee payable annually 
• First Aid training
• Disclosing and barring checks (opens new window) (DBS) per person aged over 16 years in household
• Health checks
• Public liability insurance 
• Equipment for the role
• To run a childminding business from your home you may require planning permission, which will incur a cost. Check with the council planning department
• Bespoke support package for registered childminders

If you'd like to become a childminder:

• register your interest by emailing childminding@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) your name, address and contact phone number, you will receive an email with further details to support your decision to become a childminder
• read the pre-registration briefing for those wishing to become childminders (opens new window)
• complete childminder training where applicable
• complete Pediatric First Aid prior to registration with Ofsted
• complete Disclosing and barring checks (opens new window) for yourself and anyone over 16 in the household
• complete a health declaration (opens new window)
• contact Wiltshire Council for pre-registration support, advice and guidance before registration
• complete Ofsted online application when you have completed the above
• once Ofsted receives your application, they will confirm this to you in writing and advise you how to pay their registration fee
• you will receive a pre-registration visit from Ofsted and must understand all of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements (opens new window), including the safeguarding and welfare issues; Ofsted complete this within three months of receipt of your application form
• once registered with Ofsted display your registration certificate
• consider the bespoke support package for registered childminders
• ensure you have appropriate insurances in place