What do I need to do to become a childminder?

[Kringeldec]

Hi

I am being made redundant around June and am looking into what options are available to me.

I am a mum to 4, my youngest is 10.

I love spending time with children whether it's my own or other peoples. I volunteered at my local school for 3 months (ages 5 to 6) and loved it.

I am restricted to what jobs I can look at as I would need childcare for my youngest in the school holidays. I currently work evenings and Sunday daytime so my husband does the childcare.

What qualifications would I need to train/qualify as a childminder? How difficult is it and what should I be aware of? Aside from babyproofing, what else does my home need to have?

Do I need a spare bedroom for a young child to have a sleep in or can I place a travel cot in my own room?

Any help and advice you can offer would be much appreciated.

You need to contact your local council - they'll tell you what you need to know. You'll need to fill in the Ofsted registration forms, do a paediatric first aid course and now you need to hold a childcare qualification before you can be registered.

There's far more paperwork than I imagined, and lots of Ofsted hoops to jump through. Your house isn't your own when you CM, it's your workplace. There's no escape! It can be difficult during quiet periods too, there's no guarantee of an income.

You don't need a spare room, a travel cot in your room or even in the living room is perfectly fine unless you plan to offer overnight care.

There's some useful info on the childminding forum

It can now take between 12-18 m to register. You are expected to complete cypop5 and first aid and in some cases a short course with the council. You need a CRB and GP needs to complete a form. You may need to
Complete eyfs training also. It's expensive to set up !