Step 1: Contact us to express your interest

You should firstly contact us by emailing newchildminderenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk or by calling 0800 0345 340 to tell us you're interested in becoming a childminder. We'll email you an information briefing to allow you to make an informed decision as to whether you want to pursue childminding.

We'll contact you to ask if you do plan to go ahead with your Ofsted registration, then arrange a date for our first support meeting.

Step 2: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

You'll need to apply for a DBS check.

If you’re going to be looking after children at home, any adults who live with you or work there regularly during childcare hours will also need a DBS check. This could include your partner, cleaner, housemates, lodgers and children over the age of 16.

Find out more about people connected with Ofsted-registered childcare.

Step 3: Paediatric first aid training

To compete your Ofsted application you must hold a valid paediatric first aid certificate. If you don't hold a certificate, or your previous certificate has expired, you'll need to book paediatric first aid training through our online system.

Step 4: Health declaration

Before applying to Ofsted, you'll need to complete a health declaration form alongside your GP. Your GP may make a charge for doing this.

Step 5: Early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework training

Depending on your childcare experience and your confidence in meeting the requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework, you may need to undertake training in the EYFS. This will include:

• basic early years safeguarding training
• understanding of the EYFS educational programme
• support with creating your policies and procedures

Step 6: Ofsted application

You'll need to complete your Ofsted registration application. Registration should take around 12 weeks after submitting all your documentation while Ofsted undertake their suitability checks. Visit the GOV.UK website for full details of how to register as a childminder.

After registering, an Ofsted inspector will arrange a visit to your home to check whether it's suitable, safe, and ready to take children. You'll need to comply with the requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) for children from birth to age 5 as per the statutory framework. To care for children aged 5 or older you must also register and comply with the requirements of the Childcare Register.

Step 7: Complete a childminding portfolio

To make sure you're ready for your Ofsted inspection, you'll need to complete of a childminder portfolio. This is to make sure you have all the required policies and procedures in place and you're fully compliant. It also makes sure you're fully prepared for your Ofsted registration visit.

Step 8: Local authority Ofsted preparation visit

Once you have a date for your Ofsted registration visit, one of our childcare quality improvement officers will visit you to support you in preparing for this.

Step 9: Ofsted registration visit

You Ofsted visit will take between two and four hours. Find out what happens during the registration visit.

Step 10: After your registration is approved

If Ofsted approve your registration you'll receive a certificate and your childminding career can start.

You'll need to choose when and what time you'll offer your sessions, being flexible hours for the parents who'll use your service. You can set your own charges and fees, and receive payment directly from parents. We can give you an idea of the average prices that childminders may charge for the area.

You also need to:

• obtain public liability insurance before accepting any children (costs differ depending on the insurance company you use)
• register with the Information Commissioner's Office (cost £40 annually)
• create an entry on the Barnsley Virtual Family Hub to promote your business as a childminder
• register with HMRC as self-employed and set up accounting procedures (contact Enterprising Barnsley support about becoming self-employed)
• market your business
• undertake continuous professional development, including signing up to relevant professional information websites (Ofsted, Foundation Years, etc)

Frequently asked questions about childminding

Can I be a childminder if I live in rented accommodation?

Yes, with the landlord’s permission.

I don’t have a big house with a playroom - can I still register as a childminder?

Yes, you don’t need to have a big house and/or garden to become a childminder. However, there are some requirements regarding space per number of children. See early years foundation stage framework (EYFS) for details.

What is the minimum age to become a childminder?

18 years old.

Can I be a childminder if I'm a single parent?

Yes, and you may still qualify for additional benefits.

Can I be a childminder if I have pets?

Yes. You'll need to make sure you support children to understand how to be around pets. You may wish to implement a pet policy to share with parents/carers.

Can I be a childminder if I don’t drive?

Yes, a childminder can use the local community around them as well as using public transport to venture further afield.

Can I be a childminder if I don’t have children of my own or they're grown up and have left home?

Yes, part of the training to become a childminder will help you to understand child development. It will also prepare you to support children to learn and show how to keep them safe.

Do I have to have a level 3 qualification in childcare to become a childminder?

No formal qualifications are needed to become a childminder. You'll need to show that you can follow the safeguarding and welfare requirements and the learning and development requirements of the early years foundation stage framework. These will be checked at your Ofsted registration visit.

What's the difference between a childminder and a nanny?

A childminder is a self-employed small business person who works from their own home or from non-domestic premises with children from different families.

A nanny is a person who is employed to care for a child in the child's home.

Can I claim education funding for my own or a relative's child when I'm Ofsted registered?

No, a childminder cannot claim funding to care for a child who's related to them. The definition of 'relative' in relation to a child means a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister. These can be of full blood or half blood, or by marriage or civil partnership.

As a childminder do I have to follow any educational frameworks?

As a childminder you'll play a key role in delivering the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework for childminders. The EYFS framework sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to the end of the foundation stage (the 31 August after their 5th birthday).

As a childminder what ages of children can I look after?

A childminder’s registration allows them to look after children from birth to age 8, however they can look after older children if they want to.

What hours can I expect to work as a childminder?

As a childminder you're self-employed, so set your own hours. Childminders can provide very flexible childcare, with many offering more flexible hours to include early mornings, evenings, weekends and overnight. You can decide which hours best suit you and your family.

How many children can I care for as a childminder?

At any one time, childminders (whether providing the childminding on domestic or non-domestic premises) may care for a maximum of six children under the age of 18. This includes the childminder’s own children and any other children for whom they're responsible, such as those being fostered.

Of the six children, a maximum of three may be 'young' children (a child is classed as a young child until 1 September following their fifth birthday). There should only be one child under the age of one.

I have a question that has not been answered above, what should I do?

Please email newchildminderenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk and one of our advisers will get back to you.