Register as a childminder

There are fines for not registering as a childminder if you were required to do so.

GOV.UK guidance on the matter states that you must register as a childminder if all of the following apply:

• the children are under the age of 8;
• you look after them for more than 2 hours a day;
• you look after them in your own home; and
• you get paid to look after them – including payment in kind.

A registration can be made with Ofsted or through a childminder agency.

In order to register, the childminder will need:

• an enhanced check with barred lists for home-based workers from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS);
• first aid training for the age group they will look after;
• childcare training;
• a health declaration booklet;
• contact details for 2 references; and
• a certificate of good character from an embassy – if they lived abroad in the past 5 years.

A person does not need to register (although can choose to do so in certain situations) if they are working as a:

• a nanny
• a tutor
• a babysitter and if they look after the children between 6pm and 2am
• a family friend and they look after the children less than 3 hours a day.

There are different rules for someone who provides day-care outside someone’s home – for example, a nursery or creche.