What to look for when searching for a childminder/nanny/nursery (UK)

[SecretUnassumingFoghorn]

Please can someone outline what qualifications and certificates I should expect childcare to have and what red flags to look out for for childminders, nannies and nurseries?

Childcare qualifications vary quite a bit as there have been lots of different courses over the past 30+ years.

NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing - this is a qualification that many childcare workers have, it was available until the late 1990's.
Early Years Educator - this is a relatively new qualification that you will come across. It has different Pathways, so you will find versions that have been done via working in Nurseries, as a Childminder or as a Nanny.

DfE has a list of other qualifications: www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder

Childminders and Nannies will have First Aid training. This is typically Paediatric First Aid and is renewed every 3 years.

Nursery staff may or may not have any First Aid training. The nursery should have sufficient numbers of First Aid trained staff on site.

You can find further information about First Aid requirements for nurseries in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf