Registered childminders and approved home childcarers
Information and support
A registered childminder works in their own home and is registered and inspected by Ofsted, demonstrating the quality and standards of their care. Ofsted ensures that every childminder meets the national standards such as:
- ensuring they're suitable to be with children
- checking that they provide a safe, stimulating and caring environment, giving children opportunities for learning and play
- making sure they work in partnership with parents and carers
In addition, in order to become registered, a childminder must undertake
police and health checks, have a regular inspection of their home and take an
introductory childminding course and first aid training.
Registered childminders can only look after a certain number of children at any
one time, which allows them to focus more on each child. Many registered
childminders provide flexible childcare including, early in the morning, late
in the evening, overnight and at weekends. Additionally childminders can
provide continuity of care and stability, often looking after children from
babyhood through to school age.
Carers providing care in the child's home (nannies) and childminders
looking solely after children over the age of seven can be approved under
the Childcare Approval Scheme (CAS) providing they meet the basic
criteria. For more details see
www.childcareapprovalscheme.co.uk
[External Site]
. Nannies are ideal for
parents with disabled children and those working atypical hours.
If you use a registered childminder or approved home childcarer you may be
eligible to tax credits. Parents can receive help up to 70 per cent of
their eligible childcare costs. Contact the Inland Revenue for more
details.
To find a registered childminder you can use a new and improved search tool for
finding and researching schools, childcare and nurseries. The new service -
which now also provides Ofsted reports, maps and achievement tables - will soon
be fully available on ParentsCentre. In the meantime, you can find it on the
Parents section of Directgov. As this is an external website, the link below
will open in a new window which you will need to close to return to
ParentsCentre.
Search
for schools, childcare and nurseries
[External Site]
For further information contact:
Sure Start Unit website - www.surestart.gov.uk
[External Site]
Tel: 0870 000 22 88
National Childminding Association (NCMA)
Information line: 0800 169 4486. Open Monday to Friday 10am to
4pm except public holidays
Fax: 020 8290 6834
Email: info@ncma.org.uk
Website:
www.ncma.org.uk
[External Site]
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
Tel: 020 7421 6800 Helpline: 08456 014771
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
[External Site]
Inland Revenue
Phone: 0845 300 3900
Website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
[External Site]
Tax credits: 08459 15 45 15
