What is a childminder?

In England childminders are registered by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) to care for babies and children. (The registration processes for childminders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are different - see below - and the following information applies to England only.)

Many childminders are parents themselves and will also have their own children to care for. Some will have children who are at school. Childminders look after children in their own home, which has to be inspected regularly by an Ofsted inspector. All childminders must be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau, as must all adult members of their family who share their home.

Childminders must attend a registration course and a first aid course within six months of their registration. This will cover topics such as child nutrition, food hygiene, and health and safety.

Since 2003, some registered childminders have been able to offer their services as approved home childcarers, where they work in the family home rather than in their own home. For more information about childminders in England and Wales, contact the National Childminding Association. For Scotland, contact the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) www.childminding.org, and for Northern Ireland, contact www.nicma.org.