Is childminding for you?

Childminders are professionals who provide care for children. If you become a childminder, you have to register with either Ofsted or a recognised childminder agency. You must work to the same regulations as other childcare settings.

To help you decide whether this rewarding career is right for you, our Childcare Quality Improvement team offers 1-to-1 advice.

The team has many years of experience in childcare. They can provide guidance and answer any questions you might have to help you get a better understanding of the job.

Contact the team by emailing newchildminderenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk or calling 0800 034 5340.

Benefits of being a childminder

• Feeling fulfilled in a job that has a positive impact on children.
• Working for yourself alongside meeting the needs of your family commitments.
• Having flexibility, where you can set your own working hours and within statutory ratios decide how many children you look after.
• Being your own boss and setting your own rates of pay.
• Gaining professional status with the chance to complete qualifications and develop skills.
• Maintaining a sustainable career through the offer of funded free early years education places, which keeps demand for childcare high.
• Not having to commute to work and being able to take care of your own children as part of your role.

A childminding role is truly flexible to your wants and needs. It means you can manage working life alongside family life.

What you'll need to become a registered childminder

The registration process can take between three and six months. During this time you’ll need to complete the following steps:

• attend a childminding pre-registration course (this course is 20 hours over a 10-week period, course fees may apply up to a maximum of £121).
• complete a paediatric first aid course (costing from £50 to £70).
• meet the required Ofsted registration requirements.
• be DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked, and have annual update checks. Anyone over 16 living or working at your address will also need to be checked (costing £48.10 per person initially, with an additional £13 a year for the update service).
• have a health check with your GP (these costs vary)
• be registered by Ofsted(costing £35)
• be registered with the Information Commissioner Office (costing £40 a year)
• be registered to care for up to six children, including your own, under eight years old, depending on the size of your house.
• be insured for public liability (these costs and packages vary).

Throughout this time, our team will be on hand to provide guidance and support at each stage. They can answer any questions you have and support you to have everything you need in place.

Financial support for becoming a registered childminder

The government are offering a grant to help cover the money spent on start-up fees for childminding.

You'll need to apply within two months of becoming a registered childminder to receive the £600 start-up grant.

Find out more about the childminder start-up grant.

What happens when you register?

• Register to become a childminder on the GOV.UK website.
• An Ofsted inspector will visit your home to check whether it's suitable, safe, and ready to take children. When you receive your Ofsted registration certificate your childminding career can start.
• You'll now be able to choose when and what time you'll offer your sessions. You'll need to offer flexible hours that parents using your service will be looking for and come to an agreement that suits their needs.
• You can also set your own charges and fees for your service and receive payment directly from parents. We can give you an idea of the average prices that childminders may charge for the area.

Visit the GOV.UK website for full details of how to register as a childminder.