How to train, advice needed please

[Newbie1981]

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone knew of the best way to train to become a childminder please?

I've been looking into it and am struggling to decide on the best company to train with. I know of all the training and inspections I need to complete, but am just not sure of which course to go with.

Thanks so much!

Speak to your LA, they will either run a course or recommend one.

I did the PACEY course which covered loads and PACEY were really supportive in many ways.

You really need to contact your LA (local authority) as not everywhere will accept anything else. You will get loads of advice, even things like tax / accounts. They arrange loads of courses and are usually on hand to support you.

I agree that you need to start with you4 local authority.

Not so sure about the "loads" of good advice though. This must vary from one LA to another. The only tax advice we got was "you’ll have to register as self employed" and that was it. The 'business training unit' of the course was utter nonsense: a morning spent making up cutesy business names and designing posters.

And that was before austerity kicked in and the LA slashed childminder training by 90%.