Doncaster Families Information Service

Childcare Careers

Becoming an Ofsted Registered Childminder

Interested in Becoming a Childminder? 

Potential Childminders are recommended to attend an Information Session with Doncaster Councils Early Years and Childcare Service. Please see information below about becoming an Ofsted Registered Childminder.
When you have considered this information, you can book onto a Childminder Information Session to explore the requirements for registration in more detail.
If after attending a Childminder Information Session you decide you want to continue with the process of becoming an Ofsted registered childminder you will be signposted to a Childminder Briefing Session. The Childminder Information Session and the Briefing Session will be held at Doncaster Early Years and Childcare Service, Richmond Hill, Melton Road Sprotbrough, Doncaster DN5 7SB. It is strongly recommended that you attend the Childminder Information Session before attending the Childminder Briefing Session to ensure you are able to make an informed choice about continuing with your registration.
Additional information regarding becoming an Ofsted registered childminder is available through the National Childminding Association, Ofsted and the Department for Education.
For further information contact the Childminder Support Officer via the Families Information Service on their free phone telephone number 0800 138 4568 or by e-mail to fis@doncaster.gov.uk

Frequently Asked Questions
What is a childminder?
A childminder is one to three people registered to care for children under 8 years of age, on domestic premises, for more than two hours a day, for reward or payment.
What effect will childminding have on me and my family?
Childminding will have an effect on all the family as you will be using your home to work from. You will need to decide on the rooms and areas you would like to work from within your premises, these will be inspected at your registration visit to ensure they are safe and suitable for purpose.
You will need to organise your time efficiently as you may have up to four trips to School or Nursery per day as well as providing meals, sleep or rest times and activities to develop and stretch children’s skills and knowledge so a good understanding of child development will be essential.
How do I apply for registration?
When you have considered if childminding is right for you, have discussed the idea with your family and you have completed market research to assess if there is a need for childminders in your area, you will book onto and attend a Childminder Information Session to be given basic information about registration and what is expected of you, then you will be signposted to a Briefing Session where you will be given more in depth information and an Ofsted application pack. To book onto the Childminder Information Session contact Families Information Service on free phone: 0800 138 4568 or open the information letter on the right hand side of this page.
Who registers childminders?
Ofsted’s legal powers as regulators for registered childminders are set out in the 2006 Children’s Act and Ofsted are the Government body responsible for registration and inspection of childminders.
Ofsted’s role is to register applicants, inspect childminders regularly, investigate concerns to ensure childminders meet requirements for registration, and take enforcement action when necessary.
Ofsted have an agreement with Prospect Services Ltd and Tribal Group PLC to use their inspectors to inspect providers, but the decision to grant registration will remain with Ofsted.

Childminders are registered by Ofsted on:

• The Early Years Register – to care for children aged 0 to 5 years. Providers on this register must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework Guidance
• The Compulsory part of the Childcare Register – to care for children aged 6 to under 8 years
• The Voluntary part of the Childcare Register – to care for children over 8 years of age if parents wish to claim Working Tax Credits. For more information regarding Tax Credits visit www.hmrc.gov.uk

It is likely that a registered childminder could be registered on all registers.
Home child-carers can also be registered by Ofsted on the Voluntary part of the Childcare Register to care for children in the child’s own home.
Information regarding the Ofsted Early Years Register and the Ofsted Childcare Register, and guidance for registration as a childminder or home child-carer is available on the Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk .
It is your responsibility as the registered childcare provider to ensure you are registered on the appropriate register for the ages of the children you will be caring for, and to work within the guidelines and legal requirements for each register.
Is there a fee for registration?
An application fee will be requested from Ofsted upon receipt of your application pack. At the moment the application fee for the Early Years Register is £35.00, and the application fee for the Childcare Register is £103.00. If you decide to be registered on both the Early Years and the Childcare Registers you will pay one fee of £35.00. Fee’s will be paid each year to Ofsted to enable continued registration and these fee’s may change.
Who does not need to register?
You do not need to register if you care for children over 8 years of age, look after children in their home, are a parent or relative of the child, have parental responsibilities for the child, are a foster parent to the child, or care for the child between the hours of 6pm and 2am only.
What qualifications should childminders have?
First Aid
Before application to Ofsted you will need to have a valid Paediatric First Aid certificate of at least 12 hours duration that covers resuscitation of children and babies. You will also need a First Aid box specifically for childminding use. Your First Aid certificate will need renewing every 3 years, it will be your responsibility to ensure you continue to keep your First Aid training up to date.
Introduction to Childcare course and Level 3 qualification
Childminders are required to complete a Local Authority approved introduction to childcare course. This could either be a Local Authority run course or the accredited ‘Understanding how to set up a home-based childcare service’ course (CYPOP Unit 5) that provides you with 4 credits towards the Level 3 ‘Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce’.  A level 3 qualification can be attained by gaining a further 61 credits to a total of 65 credits.
Childminders in Doncaster will be signposted to the CYPOP Unit 5 course which can be accessed online through the National Childminding Association (NCMA) website www.ncma.org.uk or by other training providers, at a cost payable directly to the training provider.
All newly registered childcare providers in Doncaster will be offered a place on the Basic awareness in Safeguarding Children course to fulfil the duty for providers to have basic awareness of different types of abuse, and the procedures to follow should they be worried a child is being abused or at risk of being abused. As a registered childcare provider you have a duty to protect children, yourself and your family and keep up to date with Doncaster Safeguarding Children’s Board guidance regarding child protection policies and procedures. These policies can be accessed by entering ‘DSCB policies’ into the search box on the www.doncaster.gov.uk website. Safeguarding Children training should be updated at least every 3 years.
Where can I access suitable first aid courses?
Your First Aid course will be funded by you directly to the training provider. You can access First Aid courses through any training provider who provides a course within the criteria as set above.
What sort of checks will be needed?
You will need an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check for yourself and any other persons over 16 years of age that live in the domestic premises, or who will work or regularly visit the premises whilst childminding takes place.
Ofsted will also obtain information from Social Care to ensure you or any other person linked with your setting is suitable to care for children.
As part of the application process your GP will complete a Health Declaration form to ensure your physical and emotional health enables you to care for children appropriately. There may be a fee payable to your GP for this service.
Ofsted will conduct a registration visit after they receive confirmation that your checks are completed, to interview you and inspect your premises to ensure suitability, and to ensure you have provided a safe environment.
When all checks have been completed Ofsted will send a Certificate of Registration that will contain details of your registration and the certificate must be displayed whilst working as a childminder.
Are registered childminders employed by Ofsted?
Registered Childminders are ‘self employed’ and you will need to:

• Register with Inland Revenue and complete Tax Returns
• Complete your accounts or employ an accountant to do so
• Adhere to DMBC Planning requirements for running a business from your domestic premises
• Register with DMBC Environmental Health Department as you will supply food and drink as part of the service you provide, and you will be encouraged to complete a Level 2 Food Safety course
• Register with the Information Commissioners Office for Data Protection as you will hold personal information about the families and children you work with
• Inform your home insurance company
• Inform your car insurance company if you will use your car for work
• Inform your mortgage company
• Gain permission from your landlord to work from the premises if applicable
• Write policies and procedures to share with parents about your working   practice
• Complete risk assessments to help identify and address weak areas of your working practice and any areas of your premises that not safe and suitable for children or staff to work in

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework?
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework covers requirements for the learning, development and care for children aged from birth to 5 years. Packs are available from The Department for Education or to download from their website www.dfe.gov.uk. This guidance gives the minimum standards accepted by Ofsted for registration as a registered childminder on the Early Years Register. Inspectors will require evidence that childminders are working to this guidance, and are developing children’s skills and knowledge. You will also be asked to provide evidence of how you plan to cover all stages of a child’s development, and how you will move the child on to the next stage of their development.
Will I need to have Insurance?
You will need Public Liability insurance that can be obtained from National Childminding Association at www.ncma.org.uk or other Insurance Agencies.
Will there be any funding to help me with set up costs?
Funding can be applied for to help with the costs of starting up of your childminding business. Please contact funding providers to discuss your individual circumstances on:

• Doncaster Chamber                                              01302 341000
• North Doncaster Development Trust                     01302 874587
• Success Doncaster                                                01302 734554

For further information and support around becoming an Ofsted Registered Childminder please contact the Childminding Support Officer on 01302 862124 or email on diane.dalton@doncaster.gov.uk

Last Updated 25/10/11