Working from home
If you want to:
- work with children from home
- choose your hours of work and rates of pay, or
- be your own boss
You should think about becoming a childminder or approved childcarer.
There is lots of help and support available including information, training, financial support to help get you started and once registered, you will receive ongoing support from the Early Years Unit development team.
What you need to do:
- Read this section thoroughly or contact us for an information pack.
- Book onto a childminder information session – contact us for dates and times.
- If you wish to proceed book onto a pre-registration training course – contact us for dates and times.
- Read the National Standards and complete the registration pack that you will be given to you during the course – you can ask us for help with this if you find it difficult.
- Use the Ofsted instructions to apply to the Criminal Records Bureau for a disclosure for yourself and anyone else in your home aged over 16.
- Arrange a pre-Ofsted home visit with your development officer. You will have 2 of these and you will be given information on making your home safe and the range of financial support that is available to help you get started.
- Have your Ofsted home inspection and suitable person interview based on the National Standards.
- Pay the £14 registration fee.
- Receive your registration certificate, start advertising your business and start childminding!
- Book yourself onto a first aid course within 6 months of starting work and further training.
Funding Support
During your pre-Ofsted visit with your development officer, they will advise you about any alterations, safety equipment or toys that you might wish to consider before you get started. Funding is available towards the cost of these as well as towards the cost of the necessary insurance, paperwork and membership of the National Association of Childminding.
They will also tell you about the training opportunities that will ensure that you have all the skills and knowledge that you need to deliver a high quality childcare service – there is funding to support these too!
