Becoming a CM - do you have to jump through all the council's hoops?

[TheScience]

I'm interested in becoming a childminder, and the council have told me I have to attend a pre-briefing session, then a briefing session, before I can even book on to a training course

There isn't a pre-briefing scheduled anywhere near me at the moment so who knows how long it will take to actually get up and running...

Does anyone know if this is all really necessary, or is there a shortcut?

A couple of years ago when I registered it was possible to bypass the council. That is what I had to do as their waiting list for a briefing session was massive. I just booked and paid for all the training myself and then completed the Ofsted application online. Once I was registered I let the council know and had to show them my certificates. I think they didn't want more people registering as there were already so many childminders in the area but there wasn't actually anything they could do to stop me. Things might have changed since then and with agencies possibly coming in September I'm not too sure how it will all work.

Certainly in Kent the council sessions are currently the only way to register I'm afraid

No shortcut!
It's just taken me 6 months.
Childminder agencies that are coming in September will probably change this - although little is known about them currently, and personally, I think it would be risky to join one, as I can't see them being around very long!

Three years ago I started the process in March 2011 - registering for the CM pre - reg briefing. I was finally registered by November 2011.

wish I'd never bothered but that's a whole other thread