Barnsley Early Start and Family Services

Do you need help with setting up as a childminder or childcare business?

It's vital that new childcare providers in Barnsley are able to start their business on a strong foundation of best practice. They also need to understand the issues to long term success.

Demand for childcare and a high quality business go hand in hand. As well as ensuring continuity of care, and childcare being a sustainable business for yourself with affordable fees for families, it:

  • improves the outcomes for children
  • narrows the gap in attainment
  • helps prepare children for school
  • is inclusive and flexible to meet family needs

Staff employed in nurseries, playgroups, out-of-school clubs and self-employed childminders need to have confidence that the childcare service they work for will continue. For parents it's key that they can make a reliable choice of childcare provider so they're confident they'll be able to have a good work/life balance.

Find out more about becoming a childminder or setting up a new childcare setting.

For more information

Call us on 0800 034 5340 or

Becoming a childminder

Childminding allows you to work from your own home to provide care and learning opportunities for other people's children.

More and more parents are looking for good quality childcare. They're also looking for childcare that's flexible enough to meet the needs of their busy lifestyles and cater for differing work and shift patterns. Lots of parents need childcare outside the usual Monday to Friday, nine until five routine.

Find out about childminding