Childminder start-up grants scheme

We are offering a childminder start-up grant of £600 to help with initial registration costs of setting up as a childminder.

Overview

West Sussex County Council is offering a £600 start-up grant to help new childminders with registration costs. This follows the closure of the previous government grant on 31 March 2025.

The scheme will end in 2026. To qualify, you must complete your registration by 31 March 2026 - unless you start the process by 3 January 2026 and experience delays due to pre-registration checks.

Eligibility

You will be eligible for a start-up grant if:

  • you work as a childminder in West Sussex
  • have completed your Ofsted or childminder agency (CMA) registration between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026

This grant is for new childminders only - these are individuals who are either registering as a childminder for the first time, or those individuals who have previously registered as a childminder but have been de-registered for at least 12 months before their current registration.

Childminders without domestic premises are also eligible to apply for the grant.

We understand that sometimes registration checks, like GP health checks, can take longer than expected and delay a childminder’s registration. If you apply to Ofsted or a CMA by 3 January 2026, you can still get the grant, even if your registration isn’t finished by 31 March 2026, as long as the delay is due to these checks. In these cases, Ofsted or your CMA must confirm that the delay was because of the registration checks.

Note: If you start your registration after 3 January 2026, you can still get the grant, but only if you complete your registration by 31 March 2026.

Childminders who have received the Department for Education Childminder start-up grant, including those waiting for the second payment, are not eligible for this grant.

The types of childcare registration not eligible for this scheme are:

  • pre-schools and playgroups
  • day nurseries
  • breakfast and after school clubs
  • nursery schools and classes
  • children's centres
  • holiday schemes
  • crèches
  • nannies and au pairs
  • CoDP (Childcare on domestic premises)

If you are not registered as a childminder, you can find out more about becoming a childminder.

If you’re registered with Ofsted, you must be listed as a childminder on either the:

  • early years register
  • general childcare register (compulsory or voluntary)

If you are registered with a childminder agency, you must hold a current registration.

What you will get

West Sussex County Council provides a one-off payment of £600 to help with initial registration and start-up costs. The grant amount is the same, regardless of whether you are registered with Ofsted or a CMA.

This grant could support you towards the costs for:

  • Ofsted registration fee
  • DBS disclosures or Live Update Service annual fee
  • health declaration form depending on your doctor’s fee
  • childminder pre-registration training
  • Paediatric First Aid qualification
  • food hygiene training
  • safeguarding training
  • Public Liability Insurance
  • membership with a professional association dedicated to supporting childminders, such as Coram Pacey or Childminding UK
  • Information Commissioners Office (ICO) - this is required where digital devices are used in support of childminding services, for example, use of mobile phones, laptops, I-pads, computers and where records are stored on computers including photographs

You can only receive one childminder grant.

How to access the grant

You don’t need to apply for the grant. If you register as a childminder with Ofsted or a CMA between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, you’ll receive a start-up grant award letter. This letter will offer the grant and explain the terms and conditions.

To get the grant, you must sign and return the award letter within 2 months of the date on the letter to confirm your eligibility and acceptance.

If you registered as a new childminder during the grant period but haven’t received your award letter and want to check your eligibility, contact the Family Information Service. Allow up to 2 months after registration for the letter to arrive.