Advice for Parents... about childminders

Magic Minders members are Ofsted (or Ofsted Agency) registered childminders and nannies. As well as agreeing to the group's code of conduct they must also comply with national childcare regulations which are enforced by Ofsted. 
​They must also comply with other legislation such as: health and safety; food safety; employment; disability; equalities; and data protection.
About Ofsted registered childminders
  • Childminders are childcare professionals who provide Early Years education and childcare (ECEC) in their own home. They can also apply to work as nannies under their existing childminder registration.
  • Childminders are registered and inspected by Ofsted or an Ofsted registered childminder agency.
  • Anyone providing childcare in their own home for children under the age of 8-years, for reward, for more than 2-hours a day MUST register as a childminder with Ofsted/agency.
  • Childminders caring for children under 5-years must be registered on the Early Years Register and follow the same safeguarding and welfare requirements as nurseries and preschools, as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS).
  • Childminders caring for children aged 5-7 must register on the compulsory part of Childcare Register. For children aged 8 and over registration is not required but is covered by the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.
  • Childminders can offer flexible childcare to suit parents' working patterns and other family needs, and can provide continuity of care for a child and any siblings from baby to teen.
  • Childminders support all areas of children’s learning and development. They must follow the same curriculum requirements as nurseries and pre-schools, through the implementation of the EYFS and undertake a mandatory 2-year progress check for children aged 24-36 months in their care
  • Childminders work in partnership with parents. They are not employees. They set their own fees, terms, and conditions, but these must be fair and reasonable.
​Ofsted registered childminders must:
  • Be aged 18 or over
  • Have Public Liability Insurance
    • Plus Employer’s Liability if they have a registered assistant (childminders)
  • Have current paediatric first aid certificate (PFA) which is renewed every 3 years
    • Any childminder's assistant who is left in sole charge (maximum 2-hours) must also have a PFA
  • Have an enhanced (home-based) DBS check or equivalent (such as a CRB or social service's police check), for themselves (childminders and nannies) and anyone aged 16+ living or working on the premises 
  • Have safeguarding and child protection training
  • Have training to enable them to implement the EYFS (applies to childminders working with under 5s)
  • Have an appropriate childcare Level 2 qualification or training in the common core (applies to childminders caring solely for children aged 8y+ on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register)
  • Hold ICO Registration (data protection) 
  • Food safety training (strongly recommended, but not an Ofsted requirement. Childminders may be required to do this by some Environmental Health Departments)
​​See the Childcare Choices website for full details of funding criteria and tax free childcare information and other financial support available.
​Choosing a childminder:
Allow yourself plenty of time to choose a childminder
  • Check out their website or Facebook page if they have these. Ask if they have an information sheet or parent pack you can look at beforehand, including fees.
  • It is best to view a few childminders to compare what their service includes, see who you "click" with and where your child seems most comfortable.
  • Arrange a visit to look round the house to see where your child will play, eat and if applicable, sleep. Check if there is an outdoor space available. Observe you child/ren with the childminder to see how well they interact.
    • Pick a time when you won’t be rushed, and your child will be alert and happy.
  • Check their Ofsted or Agency certificate, and latest inspection report (available from the childminder and on the Ofsted website where directly registered), DBS/CRB form (where applicable), first aid certificate and insurance. 
Suggested questions to ask when visiting:
  • What experience/qualifications do you have? 
  • Do you work with any assistants?
  • What age groups do you care for?
  • How many children do you currently care for?
  • What is your settling in policy?
  • How do you communicate with parents?
  • What do your fees include?
  • What hours are you available? 
    • Overnight/evenings/weekends/flexible
  • What do you do about absence, such as holidays or sickness, (for yourself and for child/parents)?
  • What arrangements do you have for meals and snacks? What do you provide?
  • How do you organise children’s naps?
    • Where do they sleep?
  • How do you keep children safe?
  • How do you support children’s behaviour?
  • What activities do you provide, indoors and outdoors?
  • Where do you take the children out and how often?
  • What forms of transport do you use?
    • Do you drive/have access to a car?
  • Do you do any school or nursery pick-ups/collections?
  • Do you have experience working with disabled children or children with additional needs?
  • Do you have experience working with children whose first language is not English? 
Financial support when using a childminder
Ofsted registered/agency childminders and registered nannies can accept employer/government tax free childcare vouchers, giving them an additional 20p for every 80p they transfer.
Registered Childminders can also offer Free Entitlement Funded* places for eligible 2-year-olds and all 3-and 4-year-olds. This is currently available as 15 hours per week over 38 weeks. A further 15 hours is available, again over 38 weeks, for working parents who meet the required criteria - up to 30 hours funded childcare in total.
Additional support may be available through Universal credits, for parents on a lower income.
In the 2023 spring budget, the government announced an extension to funding, with the intention of offering 30 hours to all children aged between 9 months and 2 years, for eligible working parents. This will be phased in by age, starting with 15 hours for 2-year-olds in April 2024, followed by those aged 9-months upwards in September 2024, rising to 30 hours for 2-year-olds in spring 2025 and for 9-month-olds in September 2025  
See the Early Years Alliance website for a useful guide to the proposed changes 
*Funded not Free!
When accessing Free Entitlement funding parents should be aware that although government refer to this as 'free childcare', it is not free. The funding paid to childcarers is intended to cover the cost of providing Early Years education and care, but it falls far short of the amount actually required to deliver these places - estimates by the Early Years Alliance and other professional bodies suggest the shortfall paid to providers is as much as £2.50 per hour. This is a huge loss to bear and many childminders, preschools and nurseries have closed or are struggling to stay open as a direct result.
Government have made it clear that settings must not charge mandatory top up fees (the difference between the funding and their usual hourly rate) or for anything that could be considered an integral element of providing Early Years education and care. They can however charge for additional services, such as food, outings and specialist classes, as long as these are optional. They can also ask for voluntary donations towards children's care.
​
For more information see 'Champagne Nurseries on Lemonade Funding',  Early Years Equality, and Pregnant then Screwed

​