Childminding offers an exciting, challenging, interesting and rewarding career.
You can childmind from:
- Your home.
- The home of a family who you are childminding for.
- From non-domestic premises such as a community or church hall.
You can choose the hours that you work. You can choose the numbers of children you care for, up to a maximum of six children. You can also choose to work alone or with an assistant or co-childminder.
In order to become a registered childminder you must meet:
- The criteria of the Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE).
- All other legislation, visit: Become a childminder or nanny (England) (GOV.UK) and Providing childcare services in England (GOV.UK)
Our team can offer support in understanding what you need to do.
Childminding training course
Childminders must have appropriate skills, knowledge, and a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. This is needed in order to provide good quality early years provision.
In Calderdale we work with you to help you decide the training that is right for you. We then work with Childminding UK who deliver online training. You can do the training in your own time and at your own pace.
Initial costs to register as a childminder
The initial costs to begin childminding are:
- The course fee (Note: We may fund this, dependant on the need for new childminder places in your area).
- Ofsted registration fees.
- Health declaration.
- DBS enhanced and update check. For more about this, visit: DBS checks for childminders and childcare workers (GOV.UK).
- A 12-hour paediatric first aid course.
- Registration with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
- Public liability insurance.
- Resources and equipment.
Some of these costs are fixed and some are variable. Speak to one of the team for more information on how these costs can be managed and planned for.
For more information about costs, see: Become a childminder or nanny (England) (GOV.UK).
Support
We have two teams that can support you through the process of becoming a registered childminder:
Early Years Childcare and Sufficiency Team
This team can support you with advice about:
- Average fees charged by other childminders in your area.
- The likely demand for your service.
They can also help set you up to offer the Government funded early education places. For details, email: fis@calderdale.gov.uk.
Early Years Improvement Officers (EYIO)
This team can offer advice, support, guidance and information through registration and beyond.
- There is a wide breadth of knowledge and experience within the team.
- They can support development of provision to meet children's and families' needs.
For details, email: qiso@calderdale.gov.uk.
During your training and the registration process, an EYIO will contact you. This is to discuss the training and any support you might need, which includes visits, emails and phone support. You will be able to contact your EYIO by phone or email throughout your training and beyond.
Others that offer training
- Early Years Alliance, visit: Childcare qualifications.
- Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), visit: Pre-registration courses.
Please note: You are responsible for making sure that the course you choose meets your needs.