Register as a childminder
There are fines for not registering as a childminder if you were required to do so.
GOV.UK guidance on the matter states that you must register as a childminder if all of the following apply:
- the children are under the age of 8;
- you look after them for more than 2 hours a day;
- you look after them in your own home; and
- you get paid to look after them – including payment in kind.
A registration can be made with Ofsted or through a childminder agency.
In order to register, the childminder will need:
- an enhanced check with barred lists for home-based workers from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS);
- first aid training for the age group they will look after;
- childcare training;
- a health declaration booklet;
- contact details for 2 references; and
- a certificate of good character from an embassy – if they lived abroad in the past 5 years.
A person does not need to register (although can choose to do so in certain situations) if they are working as a:
- a nanny
- a tutor
- a babysitter and if they look after the children between 6pm and 2am
- a family friend and they look after the children less than 3 hours a day.
There are different rules for someone who provides day-care outside someone’s home – for example, a nursery or creche.
