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.
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 years, 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 years 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 years, but they still need appropriate supervision and safeguarding.