Childminder
Further Information

What is the work like?
Childminders are paid to look after one or more children for more than two hours a day on domestic premises (normally their own homes).
They cater for the physical, emotional, educational and social needs of children in their care by providing a warm, caring environment, along with stimulating play and learning activities.
Childminders need to give affection and security to the children they care for, building up trusting relationships with them and their families.
The daily routine must be appropriate to the children’s ages and needs, and should stimulate their learning and development. It is likely to include:

• indoor play - painting and drawing, reading stories, singing, playing with natural materials and construction toys
• exercise and outdoor play
• naps
• meals - childminders plan, prepare and serve meals to the children
• (for babies) preparing bottles, feeding and changing nappies
• taking older children to and from playgroup, nursery or school.

Childminders plan and organise their day so that the children know what to expect and can receive individual attention.
As childminders are self-employed, their earnings vary considerably, but may start at around £8,000 a year.

Hours and environment

Childminders negotiate their own working hours, but need to cater for working parents, so their hours are likely to be long. Some offer a weekend or overnight service.
Normally, childminders work in their own homes. If they have to take children to and from school or playgroup, it is useful to be able to drive.
The work can involve a lot of bending and lifting.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.
Childminders are self-employed and charge fees for their services. Their earnings depend on the number of children they care for.

• Earnings might start at around £8,000 a year.
• Established childminders may earn from £10,000 to £12,000.
• The top rate for childminders in London is around £25,000 a year.

Skills and personal qualities

Childminders need:

• energy and enthusiasm
• patience and a caring nature
• good communication skills
• good physical and mental health
• self-confidence and a sense of humour
• to be open minded about different ways of bringing up children
• an awareness of safety and hygiene
• to be willing to spend long hours alone with children
• to be discreet and respect confidentiality
• the ability to keep written records and make simple financial calculations
• to know about child protection issues.

Interests

It is important to:

• enjoy working with children and planning activities for them
• have hobbies to share with the children, such as music, arts and crafts.

Getting in

There are over 80,000 registered childminders in the UK. Childminding is the most popular form of child care for working parents. The government is committed to investing in child care and increasing the number of child care places available.
All childminders are self-employed and need to promote their businesses in order to find clients.

Entry for young people

Entry is not possible before the age of 18 years. The majority of childminders are older, often with their own families.
Young people can study for qualifications in child care, such as the CACHE (Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education) Certificate and Diploma in Childcare and Education, and/or gain relevant experience by working with children in a different setting, such as a nursery, crèche or playgroup. It may be possible to prepare for work as a childminder by undertaking an Apprenticeship in Early Years Care and Education.
Apprenticeships which may be available in England are Young Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships. To find out which one is most appropriate log onto www.apprenticeships.org.uk or contact your local Connexions Partnership.
Apprenticeships may be different, depending on where people live. In Scotland they are Skillseekers - contact Careers Scotland www.careers-scotland.org.uk for further information; in Wales, Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships - contact Careers Wales www.careerswales.com; and in Northern Ireland, Modern Apprenticeships - contact COIU www.delni.gov.uk.

Entry for adults
There are no set academic entry qualifications, but to register as a childminder in England applicants must:

• Contact the local authority’s Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) by calling Childcare Link or visiting their website. The local EYDCP will provide details of pre-registration briefing sessions, where people interested in becoming childminders are given application packs and advice on the registration process.
• Fill in the forms in the pack and send them to the Ofsted regional centre (the address will be in the pack).
• Apply for the essential checks explained in the pack - a Criminal Records Bureau check for the childminder and anyone else in the household aged over 16 years of age, a health check for the childminder, and an Ofsted inspection of the childminder and home.
• Contact the local authority to enrol on an introductory course and first aid training.
• Pay a fee (currently £14) to register as a childminder with Ofsted.
• It normally takes three to six months for the Ofsted registration and checks to be completed.

Registration processes are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, entrants contact the Care Commission (Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care) for information about registration. In Wales, Childcare Link gives details of the local EYDCP, which can provide information about the registration process. In Northern Ireland, applicants contact the Northern Ireland Childminding Association.
For adults who have been unemployed for at least six months, it may be possible to get help through the New Deal programme towards starting up a childminding business.

Training

It is normally necessary to attend a short introductory course such as Introducing Childminding Practice (ICP) before registering as a childminder.
The ICP is the first unit of the Level 3 Certificate in Childminding Practice awarded by CACHE. Many childminders take two additional units to achieve the full award. The Certificate provides the underpinning knowledge for NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education.
In Scotland, childminders can work towards an SVQ in Early Years Care and Education at Level 3.
Many childminders take other forms of training covering topics such as business skills, equal opportunities or child protection. They can also participate in quality assurance schemes such as ‘Children Come First’, whereby they undertake to work to standards over and above national requirements.

Getting on

The CACHE Certificate in Childminding Practice can help childminders to move into other roles such as:

• accredited childminder, providing education for children aged three and four (as part of a quality-assured childminding network)
• community childminder, providing a service to children and families referred by social services or other agencies.
• In Scotland, childminders can work towards completion of the Scottish Childminding Association Scheme of Excellence.
• Experienced childminders can also become tutors on childminding courses.
• Childminders can move into related areas such as playwork, working as teaching assistants, or running after-school and holiday clubs. Additional qualifications may be required.

Related jobs

Care Worker
Nursery Nurse
Playworker
School Lunchtime Supervisor
School Nurse
Teaching Assistant/Learning Support Assistant

Further information

Care Commission (Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care), Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY. 0845 603 0890. Website: www.carecommission.com
ChildcareLink. National Information Line: 0800 096 0296. Website: www.childcarelink.gov.uk
Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education (CACHE), 8 Chequer Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3XZ. 01727 847636. Website: www.cache.org.uk
National Childminding Association (NCMA), Central Office, 8 Masons Hill, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EY. 020 8464 6164. Freephone Information line: 0800 169 4486 (open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday). Website: www.ncma.org.uk
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association, 16/18 Mill Street, Newtownards, County Down BT23 4LU. 028 9181 1015. Website: www.nicma.org
Ofsted, Alexandra House, 33 Kingsway, London WC2B 6SE. 020 7421 6800. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA), Suite 3, 7 Melville Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ND. 01786 445377. Advice Line: 01786 449063. Website: www.childminding.org
Sure Start National Childcare Recruitment Campaign. Website: www.childcarecareers.gov.uk

Further reading

Childminding: is it for you? - Ofsted
Thinking about childminding? - DfES Publications
Working with young children - Connexions

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