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Childminding

If you would like to have a rewarding career, be your own boss, run your business from home and make a real difference to children's lives, then being a registered childminder might be just the profession for you.

You need to register as a childminder if you want to care for children that you are not related to in your or someone else’s home for payment or reward. In order to register with Ofsted

  • Children should be under 8 years of age
  • You look after them for more than 2 hours a day
  • You look after them in a home that isn’t the children’s normal home

  • Run your own business and be your own boss
  • Offer the children you care for a happy and inspirational environment
  • See the children that you care for grow and develop
  • Work in your home, choosing the hours you work and the services you provide
  • Have a career where no two days are the same.
  • Care for your own children at the same time if you have a family
  • Meet other childminders in your area and get to know your local community

  • An understanding of how children learn and develop, or a desire to learn
  • A Commitment to professional development which will include attending on-going training mostly in the evening
  • An ability to work in partnership with parents/carers and other professional agencies
  • An ability to run your own business by keeping good records to ensure its viability

You will need to do your own market research to see whether there is a need for childminders in your area. Contact the Peterborough Families Information Service (FIS) to research if there is a demand for childminders in your area.

Email: FIS@peterborough.gov.uk

Telephone: 01733 864446

You should also refer to the Market Position Statement.

This will provide more information about registered childminding and will help you decide whether it’s the right career for you. The session will look at:

The benefits, rewards and challenges of childminding.

  • Registration requirements.
  • Further support and training.

To find out when your next Pre-Registration information session is running or if you have any questions regarding the sessions or process please contact Catrina Storey

Email: catrina.storey@peterborough.gov.uk

Telephone: 07920 160228

Content currently in development.

You can find more information on the registration process and Ofsted registers on the following websites:

gov.uk/become-childminder-nanny/register-childminder

https://childmindinguk.com/becoming-a-childminder

You will have to be 18 years old. You and all the adults living or working at the home you want to mind from will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You will be inspected by Ofsted initially to register you and then again every 3 to 5 years.

Ofsted operates two registers

The Early Years Register: All childcare providers looking after children under 5 must register on this and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The Childcare Register: This register is for providers looking after children under 8 years, and is divided into two parts:

  • The Compulsory Childcare Register: All childcare providers looking after children between the age of 5 and 8 must join this register and meet the requirements
  • The Voluntary Childcare Register: This is for providers who do not have to register with Ofsted i.e. look after children older than 8 years only, but would like to register with Ofsted so parents can benefit from tax credits and childcare vouchers

Most childminders join all three registers so they can care for children of all ages and you can apply online with Ofsted.

For you to be approved by Ofsted, you must have:

  • Completed a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for yourself and everyone over 16 years in the home you will be minding from
  • Completed all relevant courses (see above)
  • Have your health declaration check signed by your GP

You will need to provide the following details to Ofsted before you can register:

  • details of your training
  • your signed health check
  • registration fee
  • completed DBS checks
  • two references from people who know you in a caring capacity

Ofsted will need to carry out an inspection of the home you want to mind from, as well as an interview with you. A registration certificate will then be posted to you once you have proven suitability. You cannot start looking after children before you receive your certificate.

It takes approximately 12 weeks to become registered with Ofsted. You will have to attend information sessions and training before you are able to register with Ofsted.

The local authority works with Ofsted and all childcare providers to ensure that children get the best start in life. Once you become a registered childminder, you will have access to training and support from the Peterborough Early Years and Childcare Team.

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