Advise on becoming a registered childminder?

[MrsQ24]

Hi all, hopefully I'm posting in the right place, apologies if not :)

I am currently a working Mum, and I've been wanting a career change for a long time. (currently I'm in accounts).

It was during a recent conversation with my sister in law (re: the change of career plan) that she suggested looking into Childminding. Her main reason being that I'm good with children, patient, good teacher and overall patient and have a good way with children.
Teaming this with the dream of working from home, allowing me to be at home more with my own daughter (and any more children me and my husband have down the line), it's got me thinking that this could be the ideal career for me.
So far I've been reading various amounts of information online and this isn't something I plan to jump straight into. I would like to know as much as possible first. I am even thinking of doing some studying on the subject via online courses/college course first. TO ensure my knowledge and understanding is as good as it can be.
But I'd like some advise from childminders with experience on:
a) what qualifications do I need?
b) how do I start the process of becoming a child minder?
c) Is there a lot of paperwork involved?
d) any other information you can provide on how each day/week runs?

If you aren't able to answers all of my questions. If you are able to point me in the right direction of any text books, websites or recommend any organisations that offer the best guide. It would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance :) x

[Rick]

Hello and welcome. Childminding is a rewarding career so why not contact your local authority's Family Information Service and book onto a briefing session to see if it's for you.

Some more info here

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/starting-childminding-pre-registration-visits/117176-registering-childminder-updated-06-2014-a.html

[moggy]

a) what qualifications do I need?
b) how do I start the process of becoming a child minder?
c) Is there a lot of paperwork involved?
d) any other information you can provide on how each day/week runs?

a) The only people who can tell you that are your Local Authority (LA). They decide what you need to do, give them a ring. Basically, a home-based childcare course is needed, has been called CYPOP5 but I think there are changes from Sept '14.

b) By phoning your Local Authority! They hopefully be running free 'introduction and information' sessions about childminding where you can find out all about it and ask all your questions, a lot of things are different per LA so you need local info.

c) There is a lot needed to get registered! But you run things the way you want to, you can keep scrap books for the children, or do everything online etc. There are legal requirements like a register and you need contracts and policies, Pacey can help with all that and the qualification you do for the LA should cover the main Policies.

d) You run your week how you want to! Think about whether you want to be doing a school run, what school your own child is at or will be at, do you want to be tied to a school run if your own child is little? If not you might want to specialise in babies and pre-schoolers but you can only have 3 pre-schoolers including your own, 1 of which can be a baby under 12mths (see EYFS for details of ratios).
You can choose how many days a week you want to work- 3 or 4 days a week is common, 5 days a week can be hard work but there is demand for it. Do you want to work weekends? late evenings/nights for shift workers? How early are you prepared to work in the morning- 7.30am? Do you want to offer a cooked dinner, how late do you want to open, do you want to keep some family time for yourself and close at 4 or 5pm?

You will need to read the EYFS- Early Years Foundation Stage which has been revised for Sept 2014 as we all have to follow it: EYFS Statutory Framework (http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/eyfs-statutory-framework/)

Also see:
Ofsted | Register as a childminder (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/early-years-and-childcare/become-childcare-provider-or-childminder/register-childminder)

[Vikki5531]

Hi,

I'm a newly registered childminder and it took me a year to become registered!

I contacted my Local Authority in May 2013, the next childminding briefing wasn't until August.

I had to sit a Maths and English test in September and the next childminding course didn't start until January 2014! The course was 6 weeks, then had to get DBS checks before I could apply to Ofsted - this took a few weeks and my Ofsted application then took 12 weeks! I finally had my Ofsted Pre-Reg visit last month :)

I just wanted to make you aware that it is a lengthy process, but it's all worth it in the end! It's my 3rd week of looking after an 8 month old boy and I'm loving every minute and I also get chance to spend time with my 5 year old daughter.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and this forum is brilliant for any advice and support xx

[tulip0803]

Hello and welcome:thumbsup:

Good luck



So far I've been reading various amounts of information online and this isn't something I plan to jump straight into.It can take anything up to a year or more to become registered so there is plenty of thinking time in the process I would like to know as much as possible first. I am even thinking of doing some studying on the subject via online courses/college course first. TO ensure my knowledge and understanding is as good as it can be.
But I'd like some advise from childminders with experience on:
a) what qualifications do I need?
You will need to contact your local authority (family information service) to start an introductory course to childminding. This is sometimes on-line, sometimes evenings, sometimes Saturdays, it depends how the LA does things. You will need to do a 12 hour paediatric first aid course, safeguarding and prob food hygiene. These may be all in the one start-up course of may be separate.
b) how do I start the process of becoming a child minder?
The Family information team at the Local council will advise you on how they do things in your area
c) Is there a lot of paperwork involved?
In registering you will need to complete the courses, fill in application form, medical form, DBS checks for all people in household over 16, learning the childminding standards (EYFS in England, NMS in Wales, Scotland and Ireland have different ones). When working as a childminder there are registers, contracts, child info forms, permissions, accident, medication forms, records of childrens progress and accounts.
d) any other information you can provide on how each day/week runs?
Each day/week varies. It is my business and I decide how I run it and what I want to do. I go to a toddler group a couple of times a week. Have school runs most afternoons and some nursery runs at lunch time. we go to museums, the beach, the park, the river, castles, the library etc. We have messy play, crafts, outdoor play, plant things, cook, play games etc. A childminder can roughly care for 6 children under the age of 8 of which no more than 3 of those are under 5 and only one may be under a year (two under 18m in Wales). There is also the possibility of caring for some over 8s

If you aren't able to answers all of my questions. If you are able to point me in the right direction of any text books, websites or recommend any organisations that offer the best guide. It would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance :) x

[MrsQ24]

Thank you all for your replies. It's very much appreciated.

as said in my original post - this isn't something I want to rush into, and I would like to study for it too. I did study an NVQ on Social Care for the elderly and young children whilst I was at college - but this was 14 years ago, so I would definitely like to go on a course that will educate more about the subject, so that I'm going into it with more knowledge.

I will definitely be getting onto my Local Authority this week and take it from there.

Thanks again all :)
x

[hummingbird2014]

just be mindful its approx £700 to stet up courses etc..... this does not include resources you may need as well. I've spent so far £1k and still have things that i need xxx