Childminder - register with Ofsted or an agency

[TheFastestSquirrel]

I am looking into becoming a child minder. I know you can register either with Ofsted or an agency. If you're with Ofsted you do all your own admin, but if you're with an agency they help you with that.
So I assume agencies charge you more, is that right? Could anyone let me know if they prefer an agency or Ofsted and why? Thanks!

Ofsted ofsted ofsted!

I can choose how to run my business.

I don't have to pay anyone a % of my income.

My grade isn't dependent on anyone else's work.

Funded children won't be able to use you if the agency get an inadequate grading. This is huge as many more children will be funded now.

As a parent. I wouldn't use anyone who wasn't Ofsted registered for child minding. Tbh, I hadn't realised they didn't need to be.

And pp is correct ref funding, which is an equally important factor.

Definitely Ofsted after the mess with Rutland agency!

Oh I am surprised you're all saying Ofsted! I just thought I'd better ask in case agencies are better. Some of them have very appealing websites!
Foxtrot as far as I understand Ofsted inspects the agencies and agency staff inspect their child minders.

Oh really. I did not know that, but my look into cm was brief because there just aren't any where I live!

That said, I still wouldn't because of the funding situation. (Unless the agency's registration encapsulates all clients? But pp made it sound like it didn't).

Recently as agency was downgraded and all those childminders are now re registering with ofsted. Which takes ages!

Ofsted.
Recently an agency closed leaving childminders in uncertainty and questions on if they could take funding.
The big agency asks for up to 30%of your income and tells you how to work. I recently was asked to look on their site it claimed I could charge almost twice the rate that any childminders in my area are charging and claimed a very inflated income. It also really pushes advertising as a home nursery.
There is lots of free support and advice in addition there are bodies like Pacey that provide training and support.
Your LA may also offer support ours has a buddy scheme and free training.

Not sure where I've confused you, but to clarify...

Agencies are inspected by ofsted and they are in charge of regulating their own childminders. The grade they receive from ofsted is the grade all the childminders receive. Many local authorities will not let those with inadequate gradings receive FEEE funding. So you're screwed if they perform poorly. Look up the Rutland scandal.

@KateyCuckoo Thanks for clarifying. My fault, I had misunderstood.

It's a bit like being a franchisee. You are joining the umbrella organisation and can sell yourself as a "X Agency Childminder", parents can look on that agency website for childcare places locally and you'll pop up, you get to use their systems so e.g. a payment app for parents to pay fees through, use their documentation and ready done policies, they should in theory have your back if there are problems and they can offer you training and support. Some agencies will supposedly do more regular checks than Ofsted would - e.g. tiney claim they visit all their childminders annually. Not sure what sort of visits they are! You pay them a fee, they get a percentage of all your earnings, and you are tied to them. If a Rutland happens and the agency is downgraded, you suffer the consequences as well.

Versus Ofsted as the traditional route, you're independent and on your own. You get inspected every few years and that's that. There are other routes such as your council early years team or joining PACEY where you can get training and support. You can do what you want, within the law and EYFS etc, and all money is your own.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like Ofsted is definitely the better option!!

I think someone at Ofsted needs to take this quote and use it in all their news feeds! 😂😂😂😂😂

There is a financial incentive at the moment for going with an agency. Really all this tells you is that the government want people to go with agencies because it's less hassle for Ofsted (or of you're cynical it's because a certain PM has family who own an agency).

Yes I saw that you can get a £600 grant if you register with Ofsted and double that if you register with an agency! I thought that was a bit odd, but assumed that it's because agencies charge you to join them .

The agency will cost you more than the grant. Tiney also operates a discount the more people you pull in.
There are lots of Facebook sites offering childminder support. Pacey and childcare co.uk offer training and advertising as well as insurance. So you're not on your own if you go Ofsted.

I'm with Tiney and my sister with ofstead. Tiney training is more comprehensive, but they take 12% of your earnings and are less lenient with your rations. They provide all your training etc. and visit once a year. Ofstead is every 3/4 years I think and then you need to pay for your insurance separately.

Ofsted without a shadow of a doubt. You’re going to work hard for your money - make sure you keep it all! And once you’ve had your first grading from Ofsted they only visit every 6 years. Agencies are every year I believe.

It takes a while to register though so get the ball rolling asap would be my advice. Join ‘Friendly Childminders UK’ on Facebook - the support that you get there is way better than any agency will provide. Your council’s early years team should provide with all the safeguarding/ CPD you need free of charge.