Would you like a career change? Does the prospect of running your own business in your own home and working with children appeal to you? If so childminding may be for you.
Becoming a registered childminder gives you the chance of an incredibly rewarding and responsible career with all the benefits of home-based working.
Childminders work in their own homes caring for other people's children, providing plenty of opportunities to develop and learn through play. They often look after children from birth and become a well-respected and important part of families' lives, managing a business-like relationship with the parents as well as often being a close friend of the family.
What does a registered childminder do?
As a registered childminder you will look after one or more children under the age of 8 for more than a total of two hours a day, usually in your own home, for payment. As a registered childminder you will have to work in conjunction with the Early Years Foundation Stage and will be inspected by Ofsted to ensure you provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children that you care for.
There are many points you must consider before applying to become a registered childminder. For example, the impact childminding will have on yourself, your partner and any other children in your home. You need to consider the change in routine, extra noise and how your children - if you have any, may react to having to share their home, toys and you.
Childminders must have an attitude that reflects the variety of cultures within our society, meeting additional needs regarding religious persuasion, culture and disabilities.
Registration
Anyone who is regularly looking after children under eight years of age who are not the parents or close relatives of the children in their care, for reward (payment), in their own home, is required to register with Ofsted.
The penalties for illegally childminding without registration are a substantial fine, imprisonment or both.
We work in partnership with the National Childminding Association (the NCMA) who operate the Hounslow Childminding Support Project. They are able to offer guidance and support to anyone living in the borough who is considering a career in childminding.
Applying
If you are interested in becoming a childminder and would like to find out more, contact the Hounslow Childminding Support Project on 020 8831 0329 or email: hounslow.project@ncma.org.uk.
They can provide you with information about the next pre-registration information sessions and the dates they are held.These sessions will help you to think about the impact of childminding on your home and also explain the process for registration. The sessions are held at various locations across the borough, including at the local office in Feltham and in many of the local children’s centres.
Following on from the information session, you will then have the opportunity to book yourself onto the childminding introductory training course. This is a compulsory part of registration as a childminder. Once you have completed the course you will then be given the opportunity for some one-to-one support in order to get you ready for your visit from Ofsted where they will decide if you are ready to be registered.
Other requirements when registering as a childminder include:
a visit to your doctor to complete a medical form certifying that you are physically and mentally fit to be registered as a childminder
a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check on yourself and anyone living in your household who is over the age of 16
a valid paediatric first aid certificate (the project can supply you with a list of organisations running suitable courses)
public liability insurance (this is funded for the first year as it is included in your complimentary Quality Start pack)
a home that is deemed suitable for providing care for children
Support is available to help you to achieve Ofsted registration, and continuing support and guidance on professional development is always available through the support project. They are on hand to help you prepare for future Ofsted inspections and to help you with your ongoing professional development.
For more information and to request your introduction pack please contact the Hounslow Childminding Support Project on 020 8831 0329 - available Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm or email: hounslow.project@ncma.org.uk.