Job description:
Childminders run their own business and come from many different backgrounds and are of all ages. Some graduates may be seeking a career change, some may never have obtained any previous formal qualifications. Imagine a job caring for and supporting children's early learning and development that makes a real, positive impact to children – one that builds their confidence, and helps them become well-rounded, sociable young people. Then imagine the flexibility to do this job in your own home, fitting in with your other commitments.
Childminder registration
- Reception aged children - you must be registered with Ofsted and comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
- You must be registered with Ofsted and comply with the Childcare Register (for children aged 5-8 years providing before & after-school care for school age children)- this could be on a term time only basis or providing full day care throughout the holidays.
Working environment
You could register as a childminder on domestic premises which means that you can work from home.
You could register as a childminder without domestic premises which means that you can operate your business from a community hall, school or office building.
Benefits:
You set your own hours. You could do this as your only job or work it around another position allowing you to have two jobs. You could decide, for instance:
o to look after just one child before & after-school for one day a week on a term time only basis
o several children before and after-school for 5 days per week on a term time only basis
o Or open year round, providing before and after school term time only and then full days throughout the school holidays for school aged children.
You may even decide to make your childminding into a thriving business and care for several children full-time, maybe with an ‘assistant’ – a partner, family member or friend.
Pay
- Actual pay rates vary, depending on where you work, the demand for the job and what you offer. Childminders are self-employed and therefore negotiate their own rates of pay and working conditions. They are responsible for their own tax and National Insurance (NI) payments.
To be approved by Ofsted to become a childminder
- Over the age of 18
- Be a homeowner, or have an agreement with the leaseholder of your property to be able to run a business
- As a childminder, you will be classed as a sole agent, running your own business from your own home. This means registering your business with HMRC and becoming self-employed
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and register on the DBS update service - enhanced background checks
- Passed a Medical Check
- Public Liability Insurance
- Planning permission from your district council if needed.
- Comply with requirements of Ofsted registration
Main duties:
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- You will need to follow and comply with registration requirements and guidelines of Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) and the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (if caring for reception aged children) and/or Childcare Register (If caring for children aged 5-8 yrs old).
- As a childminder providing care for before & after-school care for reception aged children, you must meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework: Section 3 - Safeguarding and Welfare requirements. For older children, you must comply with the requirements of the Childcare Register.
- Adhere to safeguarding and well-being legislation
- Provide a safe and stimulating environment in which children can play, learn and develop new skills.
- Build a relationship with parents, communication with them about their child's routine, specific requirements such as diet or medical needs, religion, and what the child has been doing that day. Any accidents should be recorded and reported to the parents and talk about any problems a child is having and think of ways to help.
- Giving emotional support to children, making sure they are secure and happy
- Support children and their families through changes, transitions and individual needs
- Offer free play activities, both indoors and outside
- Plan, prepare and serve meals
- Dropping off and collecting children at school
- Building a good partnership with the school you are collecting from where information about children is shared.
- Keep paperwork in order, up to date and secure (compliant with GDPR guidelines), including; policies and procedures; observations; local authority correspondence; personal emails
- As you are providing a service to parents, a contract should be built by both parties agreeing to terms and conditions. Contracts should include the following: hours of childminding, fees for childminding, payment for absences, who is responsible for paying, date payment is due, meals included to make sure arrangements are clear with parents from the start
- Maintain your own professional development practice, keeping up to date with changes in legislation and practice
- Attend regular courses to keep your own knowledge and practice up to date and relevant to the needs of children within your care
Experience and qualifications:
Childminders must complete training to understand and implement the Early Years Foundation Stage. The Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Service offer many courses to support and enhance your childcare practice. You should also undertake Safeguarding Children training and equal opportunities.
Personal qualities:
Sensitivity and understanding Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations The ability to work well with others To be flexible and open to change The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure Excellent verbal communication skills Customer service skills
Finding out more
Leicestershire County Council, Childminder Agencies and other professional bodies such as Pacey and the Early Years Alliance can provide pre-registration support about ‘Becoming a Childminder’. They also have information on registering and further training once you are working as a childminder.
Your first step is to check out Ofsted's pre-registration briefing on becoming a childminder.
The aim is to make sure that you understand what is involved before making a decision about whether it's the right career for you.
Registration
- If you want to care for children under 8 for more than 2 hours a day, you have to register with one of the following:
Terms and conditions:
Public Liability Insurance. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and register on the DBS update service. Paediatric First Aid Certificate. You will need to contact your district council to enquire if planning permission is needed. Comply with requirements of Ofsted registration.
Benefits:
You set your own hours. You could decide, for instance, to look after just one child – or a baby for a morning a week. You may even decide to make your childminding into a thriving business and care for several children full-time, maybe with an ‘assistant’ – a partner, family member or friend.