Childminders give children structured learning through play, meals and outdoor time in a home‑based setting, either:
- in their own home (domestic premises)
- in another location, such as a community hall (non-domestic premises)
Childminders typically work between 8am and 6pm, all year round, including school holidays. However, many offer flexible hours, which may include:
- early mornings, evenings, or weekends
- overnight care (if they are registered to do so)
They may:
- work alone, with assistants and/or other childminders
- care for children of different ages, including babies, primary school and secondary school-age children
- provide school drop-offs and pick-ups
- offer holiday care and attend local groups or activities with children
Childminders must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency (CMA) and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) if caring for children under 5 years old.
They often offer funded childcare. In West Sussex, this is referred to as the Early Years Funded Entitlements.
Legal ratios for childminders
They can have:
- a maximum of 6 children under 8 years per adult
- no more than 3 of these can be under 5, and only 1 under 1 year at any time
Exceptions can be made to these ratios but the total number of children under the age of 8 being cared for must not exceed 6 per adult.
The childminder must show parents, carers and their regulatory body how they meet each child’s individual needs.
There are no specific ratio requirements for children over 8, but they still need appropriate supervision and safeguarding.