Becoming a childminder

A childminder is a person who receives payment for working in their own home (domestic premises), looking after at least one child for more than two hours a day. This type of registration allows childminders to work for some of the time on non domestic premises.

However, from the 1st November 2024 you can register as a ‘childminder without domestic premises’ which is a childminder who works solely from somewhere other than a home, like a community or village hall. Childminders without domestic premises cannot work from their or anyone else’s home at any time under this type of registration.

The start-up grant for childminders announced at the Spring Budget on 15 March 2023, there is a £600 grant for those who register with Ofsted, and £1200 for those who register with a childminder agency, will be payable to any individual who has completed their childminder registration on or after 15 March 2023. New childminders will be able to apply for the grant from autumn 2023. This grant is now coming to an end on the 31st March 2025.

The grants priority is to support childminders by helping with the costs incurred when registering, and giving them the flexibility to choose their own pathway into the sector. We know that it is more expensive to register with a childminder agency, and our grants reflect this, as we want prospective childminders to have the choice of the route that best suits their needs.

Interested in becoming a Devon Childminder? Please complete our childminder enquiry form.

• How do I become a registered childminder in Devon?

  You will need to register with Ofsted or a childminder agency before you can look after children under the age of eight years. To be a childminder you need to be at least 18 years old. As part of the registration process you would need to:

  • demonstrate your ability to deliver the requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • attend a safeguarding awareness course
  • attend paediatric first aid training.

  The Devon Early Years and Childcare Service provides free pre registration support and advice. If you would like to become a Devon childminder, or would like some advice, please contact us via our online enquiry form.

  The Devon Early Years and Childcare Service offer a 4hr session to help prepare participants to understand the role of a childminder and these currently cost £25.00. To book a place please fill in the online enquiry form.

  The registration process can take up to twelve weeks from when you submit an application form. To find out more and to apply please visit Ofsted.

  Depending on how you plan to organise your childminding service, it may require planning permission before setting up; especially if two childminders want to work together from their home. We recommend you contact your local council for advice during your business planning stage and before you apply to Ofsted:

  • East Devon District Council
  • Exeter City Council
  • Mid Devon District Council
  • North Devon Council
  • South Hams District Council
  • Teignbridge District Council
  • Torridge District Council
  • West Devon Borough Council
• What training do I need to do to become a childminder?

  Preparing to be a childminder course:

  We run a ‘Preparing to be a childminder’ session that prepares you for your Ofsted registration.

  The session is delivered as a virtual course (consisting of a 4 hour virtual session delivered through Microsoft Teams), you will need a tablet or laptop to access the session.

  Dates:

  • Weds 15 January 2025 (12pm – 4pm) – Microsoft Teams
  • Sat 1 March 2025 (10am – 2pm) – Microsoft Teams CANCELLED
  • Sat 29th March 2025 (10am – 2pm) – Microsoft Teams

  Cost: £25 per person.

   If you would like to book onto one of the sessions, or would like some advice, please contact us via our online enquiry form.

  Additional training:

  You must also attend a recognised Paediatric First Aid course (which Devon Early Years run at a cost of £75 per person) and a Safeguarding Core course (fully funded through Devon Early Years). Please note – if you already hold a current Paediatric First Aid or a Safeguarding Awareness certificate you do not need to undertake this course again.

  If you have any questions please contact us via our online enquiry form.

• Registering with Ofsted

  When registering directly with Ofsted you will need to decide which of the registers you want to join, you can join both;

  • Early Years Register: covering children from birth up to the 31st August following their fifth birthday
  • Childcare Register:
    • compulsory part – covering children from the end of the early years stage until they reach the age of eight
    • voluntary part – covering children over eight years of age.

  Please see the Quick Guide to registering as a childminder

  Application guidance for childminders who provide care solely from somewhere other than a home.

  Please follow the Ofsted online application process: registering to become a childminder.

• Additional support and advice
  • Childminder | Explore careers | National Careers Service
  • Work as a childminder
  • Childminder start up grant, only available until 31st March 2025
  • Advice and guidance and a range of material and tools to help you meet the Learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Contact us

  If you would like to become a Devon childminder, or would like some advice, please contact us via our online enquiry form.