How to Become a Childminder
Childminding is a unique, self-employed career in childcare where you run your own childcare business. Childminders have the opportunity to shape their childcare setting in the way they want to.
What Is a Childminder?
Registered childminders offer professional home-from-home childcare and early education, looking after small groups of children.
Not all childminders work from home! Some childminders work in partnership with other home premises, and some choose to split their time between their home setting and somewhere else (a maximum of 50% of their working time). This means that you can design your business model in a way that works for you.
What Steps Do I Need to Take to Become a Childminder?
To become a childminder you need to register with Ofsted or a Childminder Agency and you will be monitored to ensure that you are providing the quality of care and education set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS).
Before you can become registered, you will need to be familiar with the EYFS (which might include undertaking a pre-registration course), undertake a Paediatric First Aid course, and undergo mandatory checks via Ofsted or the Agency.
Benefits of Childminding
Childminding offers a great opportunity for both people who would like to embark on their first childcare and education role and those who are already experienced in the field.
Childminders can build their childcare and education business reflecting the type of setting they aspire to create for children, and work either on a part-time or full-time basis. Those with children can care for them alongside those that they childmind as long as they adhere to ratios and other requirements in the EYFS. Childminders are also able to employ assistants and apprentices, allowing them to expand their business if they wish to.
Childminders build a unique bond with the children and families they work with. By having a smaller childcare setting, they can adapt their setting and curriculum to meet the needs of the children in their care. Supporting children to develop and learn is incredibly rewarding, and childminders have an amazing opportunity to support children at a crucial time in their development.
Childminding can also lead to further career opportunities; the skills that childminders develop during their career both in childcare and business management help with a wide range of opportunities.
How Do I Get Started Once Registered?
If you are a Kent-based childminder registered with Ofsted, you will receive regular visits from The Education People’s Childminding Team which will support you to develop your childminding practice. Those registering with an agency will be supported by them.
To learn more about childminding, including start-up costs, relevant training, and our flexible pre-registration course supported by our experienced and knowledgeable Childminding Advisers, please take a look at our free Childminding Briefing Session.
