A registered Childminder is a person who looks after children in their own home for payment or reward.  All Childminders need to be inspected and registered by OFSTED.  Bolton also requires that everyone has public liability insurance and  a first aid certificate. I personally decided to become a Childminder when a friend asked me to care for her children while she went to work.  I was at home with my own children and was undecided what to do career wise, so this seemed like a good option.

I got in touch with my local Registrations and Inspections Department to enquire about how to get registered, as I knew that it was illegal to go ahead without registering.   As I had already started minding by this time, my application was rushed through and I was registered by the end of January. 

In order to begin the registration process I had to attend an induction evening.  We were shown a video about Childminding, not all of it was good practice if I remember rightly.  We were told all the in’s and out’s of Childminding, no rose tinted glasses or people dressed as clowns like on TV.  If they hadn’t put anyone off by this time and we were still interested in going ahead with the registration process, then we had to collect some vetting forms on the way out of the door.  The forms were to be completed and returned promptly to start the ball rolling.

The most important consideration before anyone thinks about taking up a career in Childminding is about the impact that it will have on the rest of the family.  It is not easy for a child to share one or more of their parents with other children.  It can also be difficult for partners coming home from work to a houseful of other people’s children.

If the vetting forms were clear we than had to attend a Childminding course, which took place over two consecutive Saturdays.  The elements in this course would be the foundations for my career as a registered Childminder.  Police checks are now done by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)

The contents of the course were:-

·        Childcare standards and inspection

·        Child protection

·        Dietary needs of child

·        Hygiene in the home

·        Fire prevention in the home

·        Child development

·        First aid

·        Childminding and The National Childminding Association

The pre-registration course for most areas is now unit one of the Diploma in Home Childcare (ICP).

I was quite petrified at the thought of attending courses as I had done nothing academic from leaving school, but we all soon felt at ease and were all able to contribute something positive towards the course, as most of us had experiences with our own children.

We were soon told about the financial records that we would have to keep, records about the children and their medical details, how to draw up contracts and lots of other pertinent information.  We left the course with our heads piled high with new information about all aspects of childcare, the NCMA, how to make play dough or bubble blowers, and about the fact that as long as you had a sweatshirt with you, then you could perform any necessary first aid.

I think that the main worry with us newbies was about what to charge prospective clients – we needed to cover costs, but with a little left over for ourselves, but we didn’t want to put too higher a price on our heads.  To top it all of you can charge more in higher demand areas.  Social Services didn’t want anything to do with the financial side of it, so we were all as stumped as each other. 

It is a good idea to ring a few Childminders in the area to find out what they are charging and what is included in the price.

Childminding can be a lonely job, but there are also lots of pro’s:-

• You will be your own boss
• No horrible workmates
• Can choose which hours to work
• Home bases, can be available when trades people call
• Only one third of your income counted when assessing benefits, or tax figures (assumed that expenses will cover the rest), what other jobs can you disregard a third of your household fuel bills, buy a car for the business and you could save as much as £3000 a year on tax.
• Job satisfaction
• Friendships with other Childminders and parents
• Good money
• Can sit in the garden with the children in the summer and not be stuck in an office or nursery
• I know that Childminders have to do their own accounting etc, but cash book are available from the NCMA to help with this.
• Immense job satisfaction, its wonderful watching the children in you care blossom.

I’m registered to care for three children in addition to my own.  Not more that three of those children must be under five years, although you can now count four-year-old school children as over five. 

There are a number of additional courses that you can undertake once you have become a Childminder, including the “CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare (DHC-L3)” or an “CACHE NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L3) ”.  Your local Early Years Department may provide regular training courses on all aspects on childcare including Birth to Three Matters, Child Protection or even craft ideas for the children.  You will be informed of these once you are registered.

Depending on how you want you Childminding career to progress, you can do work for Social Services, or in some areas Childminders are now offering guidance for teenage mums. 

Childminding Networks are now being introduced in most areas. Accredited networks can provide free education to three and four year olds.

As you can see there is no end to the list of possibilities once you have chosen a career as a registered Childminder.

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So if you've read all the above and I haven't managed to put you off, how do you get started?

I first suggest that you get hold a copy of the National Standards for Registered Childminding and the guidance to the standards.  These are available from Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk

What equipment will you need?

This really depends on the age of the children you are going to be caring for.  

Essentials would be books, paper, crayons, safety scissors, glue, paint, chubby paintbrushes, painting aprons (or use old back to front shirts), chunky cars, dolls, balls, wooden bricks, duplo, xylophone, drum & maracas, play crockery (or use your own plastic picnic plates, cups & jugs to start with), your own saucepans & short wooden spoons.   You'll have lots of things in your kitchen that can be used in a treasure basket for younger children and with playdough for toddlers & pre schoolers.   A second hand bedside cabinet with rings painted on the top makes a good cooker, as does a painted cardboard box.  These can also be used for cars, buses or anything else you fancy making.

Have a look around the charity shops and car boots for good quality used toys - you don't have to spend a fortune!!  My favourite shops are the pound shops where I get and endless supply of board games, play money and loads of other bits and bobs what children can use,

Fire guards are essential as are smoke alarms, check with your local Ofsted inspector over these though as some areas require the alarms to be liked together.

Gardening is great, you'll need small sized proper tools with pre-schoolers.  Sandpit toys can be used by toddlers ( I find a lot of these in the pound shops along with Frisbees, bats and balls etc.) A small wheelbarrow is a great toy or a brick trolley!!  Actually the brick trolley also doubles as a supermarket shopping trolley and a dolls buggy, its very versatile.  Look for other toys which can be used by all ages in different ways.  

You will qualify for a start up grant which will help you to buy toys and equipment or in some areas the grant consists of a package to get you started.  Please contact your local EYDCP for further details of this.

Charity shops are good sources for second hand toys & books, as are school fetes etc,  just check they're not broken, chewed or scribbled in.   Give them a good clean.  Second hand equipment is not so easy to come by now, due to EEC regulations.  It should all have the EC kitemark.  Car Boot Sales may be useful for cots, highchairs etc., but examine them carefully for wear & tear and don't buy a re-painted cot.  Car seats should be new if you don't know their history with certainty.

Parents can usually leave their own buggies, car seats, changing bag. etc.

Become a member of Ukchildminders and have access to contracts, forms & policies.  Save a lot of time, money and hassle.

You could make a lot of equipment yourself.  I bought a laminator some time ago and it is fantastic for making resources such as puzzles and games ~ many of which are available free of charge on my Printables page.  I also use it to coat my business cards and Parent and Child cards.

Please ensure that all your toys and equipment reflect our multicultural, multiracial society with positive images of disability and gender.

So what should you charge?

Charges vary from area to area.  You will need to do a bit of homework on this before you decide on a fee.   I suggest charging extra before 8 and after 6, extra for out of contracted hours, extra extra for unauthorised overtime.  This depends on what hours you are willing to work.

 

So how many children can you care for?

Usually you are allowed 3 under fives and 3 over fives.  So an over five (inc 4 and at school full time) will not take the place of an under five, unless you have more than 3!  You have to be careful with babies, usually you are only allowed one under 1, however  experienced minders may be able to care for more than one baby with special permission from Ofsted.  If you take on a part timer and then someone asks you to take on a full timer, you have missed out.  You can mind as may children as you wish as long as you do not exceed your numbers at any given time.  So you could have 2 part timers sharing one place etc.  The number you are allowed to care for will be on your registration certificate.  These numbers take into account your own children so you can actually care for the number written on your certificate.

Do I have to do any training before I can begin to childmind?  

 

You will probably be required to do unit 1 of the Diploma in Home Based Childcare course as your registration course.  There is no assignment, but a multiple choice test at the end. You may also be required to do some additional training such as Child Protection.

Are there any special considerations?

It is important to discuss the impact that childminding will have on your family and your home.  There will be a constant stream of strangers and children visiting you along with inspectors.  You sometimes feel that your home has been invaded.  If you have children of your own then you will need to take their feelings into consideration as it can be quite hard sharing mum with other children.  On the plus side they will have lots of new friends to play with.  You will need to have public liability insurance and a first aid certificate.

 

What paperwork will I need to have ?

Policies etc. are available on the ukchildminders list (for members) along with developmental records and any other paperwork you could possibly need.  You can use desk diaries for registers and incident books, accounts etc. as you can not rip the pages out of them.  I have also bought duplicate books for my accident book, existing injuries and receipts.

By the way most areas now have a support childminder scheme in place where existing childminders support new childminders for the first year or so.  Ask your Early Years Team for more information.

Good luck!!!!!