Regulating Childminders

Ofsted regulates childminders using the following four methods:

• registration;
• inspection;
• investigation;
• enforcement.

By using the above methods Ofsted aims to:

• protect children;

• enforce the National Standards;

• promote high quality childcare;

• ensure that children are well cared for in safe environments which enable them to take part in learning activities which contribute to their development;

• help to reassure parents.

Who Needs To Register?

As a childminder you need to be registered by Ofsted if you look after one or more children under eight years of age, for more than a total of two hours per day, on domestic premises, for any kind of reward. ‘Reward’ in this case does not necessarily mean money. Accepting presents or payment ‘in kind’ is also viewed as ‘reward’. It is an offence to act as a childminder without being registered and if discovered you may be liable to a fine.

There are, however, people who can care for children without being registered as a childminder, and they fall into the following categories:

• If you are the parent, or relative of the child you are looking after, or if you have parental responsibility for the child.

• If you are a local authority foster parent in relation to the child.

• If you have fostered the child privately.

• If you only care for the child between the hours of 6pm and 2am.

• If you look after the child wholly or mainly in the child’s own home.

• If you care for children from two separate families wholly or mainly in either or both of the children’s own homes.

Requirements For Registration

You have to prove that you can meet certain requirements prior to Ofsted agreeing to grant registration. Ofsted will be looking for the ways in which you can demonstrate that:

• You agree to comply with the National Standards (as set out in Chapter 2 of this book).

• You agree to comply with any regulations and conditions which your regulatory body may feel necessary to impose on you.

• You are a suitable person to look after children under the age of eight years and that any other person working with you is also suitable.

• Every person living or employed on the premises is suitable to be in regular contact with children under the age of eight years.

• That the premises where you intend to carry out your childminding business are suitable for the purpose of caring for children under the age of eight years.

In addition to complying with the National Standards, regulations and conditions imposed on your registration, you must also ensure that you notify Ofsted of any:

• alterations to your premises or childcare provision

• changes to any assistants, employees or family circumstances

• circumstances which may affect the welfare of any children in your care.

There are some factors that would automatically prevent you from becoming a registered childminder and these are looked at in Chapter 2.

Applying To Be Registered