If you live in rented accommodation you need to check with the terms of your rental/leasehold agreement to see if you are allowed to operate a childminding business from home. You will certainly need your landlords/leaseholder’s written permission.
If there is a mortgage on the property, there may be a clause that says a business can’t be run from the property, but childminding businesses are often looked at slightly differently to any other business and may be excluded from this.
There is tenants insurance for fixtures and fittings that a childminder can purchase to help reassure a landlord/leaseholder that their property is covered by insurance and allay any fears about extra damage to the property.
If you are allowed to childmind from the property, expect to provide any extra safety equipment needed such as fire blanket, stair gates etc. yourself and make good any fixing holes etc. before you move out.
All childminders in England are registered and inspected by Ofsted. There are certain conditions of caring for children that mean Ofsted registration is not required. Read the Ofsted factsheet Early Years and Childcare Registration Handbook
All Ofsted registered childminders have to:
- be registered on the Early Years Register and/or the Childcare Register.
- hold an up to date paediatric first aid certificate
- be Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked. Find out more information
- complete an introductory childcare course
- have appropriate insurance cover, including Public Liability Insurance.
- Deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage for children on the Early Years Register.
Local authorities in England offer different levels of help, support and advice for new childminders, and may even be able to fund your further training. It’s always worth getting in touch with your local authority early years team to see what help and advice they can give you in getting started as a childminder.
Although you do not need to have a childminding qualification, holding a Level 3 Early Years Educator Childcare Diploma may increase your credibility to prospective parents.
The early years qualification will help you progress your career, increase your earning capacity and open up a whole new world of exciting possibilities to you. You will study a wide range of units: these include supporting healthy lifestyles, promoting children’s emotional wellbeing, understanding the value of play and working in partnership with others. To find out more, click here.