Becoming a provider
Home childcarers
What is a homechildcarer?
A home childcarer is someone aged 18 or over who cares for children from birth to 17 years of up to two families at any one time, wholly or mainly at the home of one of the children. This includes nannies. A home childcarer can be self-employed or employed by one or more families.
Home childcarers do not have to register with the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s services and Skills (Ofsted) but may choose to register on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register in order to:
- reassure parents that they are checked, insured and have had minimum training
- enable eligible parents to claim the Childcare Element of Working Families’ Tax Credit.
How do I apply to go on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register?
Applications can be made:
- online by following links from the Ofsted website at www.ofsted.gov.uk
- over the phone to a member of staff in the Ofsted National Business Unit on 0845 6404 0404
- by requesting a paper application over the phone or by post from Ofsted NBU, Royal Exchange Building, St Ann’s Square,Manchester, M2 7LA.
What are the requirements for registration?
Home childcarers on the Childcare Register must meet the requirements for registration set out by Ofsted in the Guide to Registration on the Childcare Register which can be found at www.ofsted.gov.uk
These include:
- a first aid qualification appropriate to the ages of the children being cared for which should be renewed every three years
- a qualification at a minimum level 2 in an area of work relevant to childcare, or training in the core skills as set out in the document Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce
- an enhanced CRB disclosure
- insurance for liability which may be incurred for death, injury, public liability, damage or other loss.
A summary of the Ofsted requirements for the Childcare Register
Where can I find out more?
- Devon Early Years and Childcare Service Registration and Inspection Support Team on 0800 056 3666 email registrationsupport@devon.gov.uk.
- Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk
- Ofsted factsheet on the Common Core Skills
