Become a childminder

New changes in the early years sector were introduced by the Department for Education on 1 November 2024 to increase flexibility for childminders.

The main changes are:

• a new category of childminder called ‘childminders without domestic premises’ for childminders who will work solely from somewhere other than a home
• an increase in the total number of people (including childminders and assistants) who can work together under a childminder’s registration from 3 to 4
• giving childminders on domestic premises and providers of childcare on domestic premises flexibility to work most of their time on non-domestic premises, removing the 50% limit

If you wish to operate on non-domestic premises (either for some or all of your time), you will need to register this with Ofsted. You will also need to let Ofsted know if there are any future changes to the place you chose to operate from. Ofsted will need to approve the suitability of any non-domestic premises you intend to use.

• Ofsted opens registrations for new childcare provider type - GOV.UK
• New changes for childminders coming soon – Ofsted: early years

The county council has developed a childminder training offer to support those considering childminding as a career, those who are pre-registration, new or returning to childminding and our current childminders.

Courses are offered as e-learning, online or face-to-face in the evening and weekends where possible, though longer courses may be held during the day. Courses are free or reasonably priced to support childminders with their continued professional development.

Courses for potential childminders, those who are pre-registration, new or returning:

• Thinking of becoming a childminder?
• becoming a childminder: Preparing your business. Essential knowledge and pre-reg visit preparation
• building your childminding business: Part 1 Business development
• building your childminding business: Part 2 Provision

Other courses to support registration and business development:

• Paediatric First Aid
• safeguarding and child protection for early years and childcare practitioners or Safeguarding and child protection designated refresher training for childminders (if you have previously completed a safeguarding course)
• EYFS essentials
• new early years practitioner
• new early years setting
• financial planning for early years and childcare providers
• marketing for early years and childcare providers
• childminder network events

Details of these and other courses can be accessed through our early years and childcare training and support programme. You can also email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk for guidance on which of our courses you might need.

Other training options available to you are:

• Ofsted’s online pre-registration course
• online learning courses through organisations such as PACEY
• asking your local college what they offer

You pay the training provider directly for courses. If you choose to register with a childminder agency, they may also offer training and support prior to registering with them - check this with the individual agency.

Ofsted is a government department responsible for registering and inspecting early years and childcare settings for children aged 8 and under.

To work as a childminder, most people are required to be registered if they are planning to look after children under the age of 8 for reward. You can register with Ofsted as an independent childminder or you can register as part of a childminding agency.

Childminder agencies register childminders and give training, business support, advice and help finding suitable parents. Ofsted have written a useful blog to help you understand the difference between registering with Ofsted or a childminder agency.

Although there are some situations when providing childcare you cannot or may not need to register with Ofsted, unregistered childminding is illegal and could result in prosecution and fines.

Ofsted’s Facebook page enables you to ask questions about registration. Guidance from Ofsted includes:

• checking whether registration is required for your particular circumstances
• things you must do before applying to register
• when and how to apply to register
• how much it costs

This guidance is for Ofsted-registered childminders or those applying to register with Ofsted. For guidance on registering with a childminder agency, or what you need to do if you are already with an agency, contact the agency directly. You can find more information on childminder agencies on GOV.UK.

The Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) scheme is open to day nurseries, pre-schools and childminders in West Sussex that meet the scheme’s criteria. The terms and conditions for providers are outlined in the EYFE Provider Declaration, which must be adhered to.

Childminders are no longer required to hold a level 3 qualification to offer EYFE for either working families or the LA issued funded entitlement. However, we encourage working towards gaining a full and relevant level 3 qualification if you do not already hold one.

The EYFE scheme is made up of several different schemes, all with their own eligibility criteria, including Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds, Working Family Entitlements from 9 months old and 2 year old LA Issued EYFE.

For further information on EYFE funding rates and how to join the scheme visit providing early years funded entitlements.