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A very warm welcome to South Devon College from Sally Squires, course tutor for our childminding course.

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What childminder agencies do

In England, there are 2 childcare registers:

the Early Years Register covers the care for young children from birth to age 5 (until 31 August following the child’s fifth birthday) for more than 2 hours per day in respect of a particular child (that is not exempt from compulsory registration)

the General Childcare Register (also known as the later years register) covers the care of children from 1 September following the child’s fifth birthday. This is split into 2 parts:

Part A of the General Childcare Register (the compulsory part) covers the care of children aged 5 to 7 for more than 2 hours per day in respect of a particular child (that is not exempt from compulsory registration)

Part B of the General Childcare Register (the voluntary part) is for providers who are exempt from compulsory registration - for example, childminders who care for children aged 8 and over, nannies, and activity-based providers (those providing activities from a specified list of activities such as sports, dance and drama clubs)

CMAs register childminders and providers of ‘childcare on domestic premises’ who meet the legal requirements for registration on the Early Years Register and/or Part A of the General Childcare Register.

CMAs must provide their registered providers with annual quality assurance visits, practice support and continuous professional development (CPD).

CMAs also have a statutory responsibility in terms of deciding whether a provider that is registered with it remains suitable for registration.

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Registering with as a childminder with Ofsted 

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Registering with as a childminder with Ofsted 

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This guidance explains the steps to become a registered childminder with Ofsted, the steps you will need to take prior to your application and the associated timescales with Ofsted.

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You are a childminder if you are caring for children in your or someone else's home for payment or reward. It does not count as childminding if it is the home of one of the children being cared for, unless the care is for more than 2 different families at the same time.

You can either follow the guidance on this page to register as a childminder with Ofsted, or you can register with a childminder agency instead. See:

There are some situations when you cannot or may not need to register with Ofsted or a childminder agency.

You can work alone or with up to 2 childminders at any one time. Each childminder (often known as co-childminders) must apply to register separately.

If you work with 3 or more other childminders or assistants, you are providing childcare on domestic premises. You must register with Ofsted or with a childminder agency.

You may also want to work in different settings as well as being a childminder.

You only need to apply as a childminder once, even if you work from a number of different homes. However, you must tell us about all of the homes where you will work.

You can operate either as an individual or as an organisation (for example Jenny Smith or Jenny Smith trading as SuperStars (Ltd)) but for Ofsted registration purposes you will be treated as an individual registered person. If you become a company after you register, you will not need to apply again.

Childminder assistants

You can have assistants but can only leave them alone with children for up to 2 hours a day (with parental permission). If you want to leave children alone with assistants for longer periods of time, the assistants must register as childminders in their own right.

Your assistants need to get an enhanced check with barred lists from DBS. You will need to use the Childminder: report new adults in the home service. They cannot work unsupervised until they have received their suitability letter from Ofsted.

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Childminders and childcare on domestic premises: registration

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How to register if you want to look after children at home, including what you need to do before you apply, fees, and working elsewhere.

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Registering with a childminding agency continued..

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Registering with a childminding agency continued..

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Even though you are registering with a childminding agency, there are some additional forms you will need to complete for Ofsted, please follow this link to see those applicable.

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Application forms to complete to register with Ofsted.

Applies to England

To apply for registration as a childminder agency you need to complete the CMA1 and CMA2.

The CMA1 is the application form for the Early Years Register and Childcare Register.

The CMA2 is the declaration and consent form for all individuals connected with a childminder agency.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Submitting your application forms

Please either scan or photograph them and send them together with your unique reference number (URN), if you have one, to childminder.agencies@ofsted.gov.uk.

Tell Ofsted about changes to a registered childminder agency

We need to know about changes to your agency to ensure it continues to meet registration requirements.

The individual owner or nominated individual must let us know about changes, using an email address they have previously given us. They should email childminder.agencies@ofsted.gov.uk with details of any updates to the following:

the names, addresses and contact details of the registered person, nominated individual or manager of the organisation

correspondence or invoice address details

new starters or leavers to the organisation, including starting and leaving dates

changes to the way the agency operates

Please ensure any new starters submit a CMA2 form if necessary.

Changes to how the agency operates

If there are any changes to the way your CMA operates, you should also update your organisation's statement of purpose. You can find out more about this in our childminder agency registration and suitability guidance.

Please email your updated statement of purpose to childminder.agencies@ofsted.gov.uk with 'childminder agency statement of purpose' in the subject line of the email.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Application forms to complete to register with Ofsted.

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Childminders are professional childcare workers. They work from their own home to provide a childcare service for other people’s children in a home based setting rather than a nursery or pre-school. Childminding is a very rewarding and important role, and many people choose to become childminders because of the flexibility it offers them in working from home whilst earning an income.

Working with children is both a privilege and a professional responsibility and is something that needs to be entered into with very careful consideration and preparation

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PACEY - Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years

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Your steps to becoming a registered Childminder in Torbay 

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Your steps to becoming a registered Childminder in Torbay 

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Torbay Council provide access to a an online briefing module, that provides you with all the information you need regarding the registration process and what is involved in order for you to become a registered childminder in Torbay.

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Are you thinking about becoming a childminder in Torbay?

Do you want to know what Ofsted registration actually means and what you need to do next?

Childminders are professional childcare workers. They work from their own home to provide a childcare service for other people's children in a home based setting rather than a nursery or pre-school. Childminding is a very rewarding and important role, and many people choose to become childminders because of the flexibility it offers them in working from home whilst earning an income.

Working with children is both a privilege and a professional responsibility and is something that needs to be entered into with very careful consideration and preparation.

To help you understand how Childminders work and what their responsibilities are we have created an online pre-registration briefing module. This will give you all of the information you need as well as explaining the registration process and what is involved in order for you to become a registered childminder in Torbay. It will hopefully answer all of the questions you may have and help you to decide whether this is a career for you.

Should you have any unanswered questions after completing the module or if you would like information about the Early Years Foundation Stage Childminder training course which would be the next step in the registration process, please contact the Early Years Childcare Advisory Service on 01803 207895.
Apply for i-Learn Account
You can watch a navigation tutorial video to help you find your way around the site. The password for this video is ilearn.

Once you have registered with i-Learn you can start the Childminders Pre-registration briefing module.

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Information and advice on how to become a registered childminder in Torbay.

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Follow this link for useful introductions and videos into the role of a childminder.

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Childminders are professional carers who look after children in their own homes. They will have undergone inspections as well as basic training and first aid courses.

They look after children from babies up to school age and often beyond as they start school.

Their hours are more flexible than a nursery. They may only work during school term times or offer slightly shorter hours. This will vary though, so you'll need to find a childminder with working hours that fit in with yours.

There are limits to the number of children a childminder can watch at one time, and they usually set their own hours and rates.

We deliver quality childcare in a safe and fun environment, and we work really hard to nurture the children in our care.

One of the main advantages of using a childminder is that your child will be one of a small group. This means they'll have plenty of individual attention, and their activities can be tailored to their needs.

It also means childminders can pick up on any behavioural changes or developmental delays really quickly because they know the children they work with so well.

Childminders might be able to send you photos of your child every day to show how they're progressing and enjoying the activities.

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What is a childminder and what do they do?

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Childminders are professional carers who are registered with OFSTED. They look after children in their own home and will have undergone inspections as well as basic training and first aid courses. We spoke to Sinthuya and Lisa about their jobs.

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This useful video provides information on how to register for home based childcare with Ofsted. Please note this video will also include information for nursery registration.

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Ofsted Registration Visits - Childminders and Nurseries | Including  questions they will ask you

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Childminder start-up grants scheme update: April 2023

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Following the announcement of the new start-up grant for childminders at the Spring Budget on 15 March 2023, we can confirm that the £600 grant for those who register with Ofsted, and £1200 for those who register with a childminder agency, will be payable to any individual who has completed their childminder registration on or after 15 March 2023. New childminders will be able to apply for the grant from autumn 2023.

Our priority is to support childminders by helping with the costs incurred when registering, and giving them the flexibility to choose their own pathway into the sector. We know that it is more expensive to register with a childminder agency, and our grants reflect this, as we want prospective childminders to have the choice of the route that best suits their needs.

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Follow this link to register with Ofsted. This will cost £35 and is non refundable. Please note, you will need to gather identification and additional evidence before starting this application. The process will take approx 30 minutes.

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You must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency to look after children in your home. There's a list of childminder agencies you can register with.

Registering as a childminder with Ofsted

You will need:

Ofsted will reject your application if you do not have the correct documents.

Checks on other people in your home

You must tell Ofsted about new adults in the home where childcare takes place. This applies if they:

This includes a child of yours already living in the home who turns 16.

If anyone aged 16 or over lives with you or works in your home regularly, they'll need to get an enhanced DBS check with barred lists.

The type of check they get depends on their role. For example, your partner would need to get a different check from someone who works in your home, such as a cleaner.

They'll also need to get a certificate of good character from an embassy if they've lived abroad in the last 5 years.

If you're helping someone else with their application

Data protection regulations mean we cannot share information about an application status with anyone except the childminder.

How much it costs

It usually costs £35 to register with Ofsted. This fee is not refundable.

Find out about other costs.

How long it takes

It usually takes up to 12 weeks to process your application.

Register online

It should take you about 30 minutes to fill in the form.
Register as a childminder

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How to register as a childminder or nanny: the Ofsted Childcare Register, the Early Years Register, who can register, how to apply.

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Registering with a childminding agency @home care

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Registering with a childminding agency @home care

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The above website takes you to @home care, a childminding agency you are able to register with, currently on the gov.uk list of approved childminding agencies.

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Become a Childminder | Training & Registration | At Home Childcare

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@Home Childcare are Ofsted Approved to provide the full package of training and support to help you become a registered childminder in as little as 3 months.

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Registering with a childminding agency - Tiney

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Registering with a childminding agency - Tiney

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The above website takes you to tiny, a childminding agency you are able to register with, currently on the gov.uk list of approved childminding agencies.

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Earn £40,000 or more

Once registered and with your vacancies filled, it's realistic to earn up to £40k per annum. But with assistants, you can earn even more than that.

1:1 support

You'll receive personalised support to launch a successful business with our in-house childminding experts, taking the risk out of starting up.

Flexibility and freedom

Childminding is a career where you're in control of your time and your curriculum. No bosses, no bureaucracy and no paperwork.

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Discover the quickest path into childminding

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Find out how tiney can help you launch your own home-based education business in 2-3 months

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Apply for your childminding course with South Devon College 

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Apply for your childminding course with South Devon College 

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Follow the link above to make your application to join our child care course at South Devon College. This course provides you with a level 3 award through CACHE in " Preparing to work in home based childcare"

After your application you will be contacted by the course tutor Sally Squires who will discuss your interest in the programme and take you through to enrolment.

The course is 6 weeks in duration and is held both in person and through online learning platforms to ensure ease of access regardless of your personal and professional commitments.

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Subject Area Children and Young People

Course Type Adult Learning

Start Date May 2024, April 2025

NCFE CACHE Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare Award Level 3

The Level 3 Award in Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare has been developed in collaboration with the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY).

This qualification prepares students to set up a home based childcare setting as a registered childminder. It is suitable for students who wish to be employed in home based childcare settings as childminding assistants or other home childcarers (eg. nannies, au pairs). To complete the course students must complete all 3 units as follows:

Unit 1-Preparing to work as a home based childcarer

Unit 2-Preparing to set up a home based childcare business

Unit 3- Exploring the role of the Nanny.

Students completing this course are eligible for a childminder start up grant. Students that register as a childminder with Ofsted will get £600 and those who register with a Childminding agency will get £1200, plus we work with Torbay Council provides ongoing support and e-learning opportunities for new Childminders.

Course Details

Entry Requirements
Expand Close

You should have a genuine interest in this subject

A paediatric first aid qualification is a requirement of registration for childminders. Students may wish to consider the Award in Paediatric First Aid.

What will I learn?
Expand Close

Unit 1: Preparing to work as a home based childcarer. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the knowledge required to work with children in a home based childcare setting. It covers subject areas such as:

legislation and regulation relating to home based childcare

safeguarding and child protection

health and safety in a home based childcare environment

promoting equality, diversity and inclusion

day-to-day care routines for children

working in partnership

children's learning and development

play

the role of observation.

Unit 2: Preparing to set up a home based childcare business. This unit prepares students to set up a home based childcare business. It covers:

leading and managing a home based childcare setting

financial and taxation requirements when setting up a home based childcare setting

creating a business plan

registration requirements for home based childcarers

Unit 3: Exploring the role of the Nanny. The aim of this unit is to explore the role and responsibilities of the Nanny. This unit will consider challenging aspects to this role as well as introducing sources of support, advice and guidance for the Nanny. This unit will consider challenging aspects to this role as well as introducing sources of support, advice and guidance. It covers:

partnership working

expectations required of the role

the role of advisory, guidance and support services

how to plan steps to become a Nanny

Course Applications

Please choose your preferred study option below (subject to change).

Dates03/05/2024 - 07/06/2024

This course costs: £300.00

If the amount shown is more than £0.00 and you are aged 19 and over at the start of the course, you may have options to help fund your studies with us. The funding you can receive depends on your personal circumstances, and could mean you are entitled to fully subsidised or reduced tuition fees.

This course is fully funded for 16-18 year olds (if applicable to the course).

You may also be entitled to support with travel, childcare and equipment.

To find out exactly what you could receive, contact our Helpzone team on 08000 380 123 for a free, impartial appointment, with no commitment necessary.

This course costs: £

If the amount shown is more than £0.00 and you are aged 19 and over at the start of the course, you may have options to help fund your studies with us. The funding you can receive depends on your personal circumstances, and could mean you are entitled to fully subsidised or reduced tuition fees.

This course is fully funded for 16-18 year olds (if applicable to the course).

You may also be entitled to support with travel, childcare and equipment.

To find out exactly what you could receive, contact our Helpzone team on 08000 380 123 for a free, impartial appointment, with no commitment necessary.

"I will really miss my college days and from the beginning the tutor, Al, has been so supportive. From someone who has not completed anything academic in over 20 years, this course was a step in the right direction for me. I have learnt so much from the group of people, different organisations, but mostly from Al who has a wealth of HR knowledge. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Al and she will always go out of her way to support and guide you in the right direction". Kelly Gidley - Temporary Staffing Team Manager, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Paignton Campus - Vantage Point

This course is available at our Vantage Point Campus.

Our inspirational Paignton Campus provides the very best learning environment, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

South Devon College,
Long Road,
Paignton,
TQ4 7EJ

Have you considered...

We have courses to suit everyone so if you haven't found exactly what you're looking for yet, we recommend you take a look at the following courses. We've selected these for you based on your interests.

Returning to education

At South Devon College, we offer a wide range of adult education courses and qualifications, so whatever you want to do, you can achieve it with us. The only question is how far do you want to go?

Careers advice

With so many courses available, we understand that finding the right one for you isn't always easy. Our Helpzone team offer dedicated careers advice and are open all year round. Drop in or call us if you would like to have a chat about your options.

Financial support

If the idea of cost is holding you back from committing to a course, there is a wide range of financial support available for adults to help fund your studies with us.

© Copyright 2024 South Devon College.

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NCFE CACHE Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare Award - South Devon College

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The Level 3 Award in Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare has been developed in collaboration with the Professional...