Information on childminding please Help!!!!

[jaz1234]

PEOPLE PLEASE HELP!!!

Hi
I just wanted to know more about becoming a childminder on non doestic premises as my sister and i were looking to become co-childminders. We are both 19 years of age and do not have properties in which we can provide childcare so that is why we want to provide childcare on non doestic premises. she is currently studying her NVQ Level 2 in childcare (and works in a nursery) and i am to complete the CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Home-Based Childcare (DHC)(and i work as a nanny) and we both currently hold paediatric first aid training certificates. will this be enough to try and register to become childminders? i know this could be a very long process( & I know we have to get CRB checks by ofsted)
also could i have any information on what properties would be suitable for non domestic premises?

(sorry for the long message)

please post any replies as it will be much appreciated,

thanks

Jas

I doubt anyone will have experience of this given that it is rather unusual.

Non-domestic premises would be somewhere which does not have sleeping provision, so like an office building. So my immediate thought is that getting planning permission may be an issue - childminders do not usually need planning permission but if you used an Office, then I think it would need Change of Use planning consent. Perhaps your local council planning department would be a place to ask... Do you have a building in mind?

Expect it would be easier to rent a house and childmind from there. You would need to sleep at the property so it was classed as domestic premises.

How is the financial situation? Anywhere that you rent - be it domestic or non-domestic will want some rent in advance, plus you will have quite a lot of setup costs as you don't say that you already have children of your own, thus I suspect you will need toys, highchairs etc.

I can't find an Ofsted registration category for "Childminding on Non-Domestic premises". Do you perhaps mean "Childcare on Non-Domestic premises"? If so, that would be a nursery or a crèche.

Guide to Registration: non-domestic

Planning Permission Guide from Portsmouth.gov.uk specifically about Nurseries.

example of Outline planning permission
another example of planning permission

So in essence I feel you are wanting to start a small day nursery. The costs of doing that are rather high and being granted planning permission could take quite some time, yet alone the cost of producing the documents and reports needed.

So I'd say scrap the idea of doing Non-Domestic. Instead go for Childminding on Domestic Premises by renting a house and moving in to it.

Perhaps you can post something on
www.childmindingforum.co.uk

Listen t Nick

He is right

I did a lot of research a while back

Sorry Pippin - I had the thread open a while before I posted; I didn't mean to ignore you

thanks guys for the info, i think your right - i will be better off childminding on domestic premises.

thanks again x

If you want to ba a CM you have to work where you live, that is the nature of the registration. Childminders will be required to hold a level 3 qual by 2012 (although they keep changig it)

Childcare on non-domestic is basically a nursery, pre-school, after school club, creche ect. To do this you will need a Level 4 qual manager (currently 3 but changing soon) also the manager must have at least 2 yrs previous experience in a management / supervisory nursery role. You must have 2 people at all times on the premises, and suitably qualified staff and ratios for the children you care for.

Planning is a pita, believe me I know, I have spent a fortune over the last 2 years trying to do the same thing, ofsted take up to 6mths to register you once you have premises and planning permission etc, therefore you will need to have a wagon load of spare cash to cover bills for the first 6 months with no children / income coming in, then project your possible income over the next few months to try and cover your overheads. It's not for the faint hearted, I still havn't given up, despite my naff council saying no all the time.

Have you thought about buying something that already has planning or a nursery that is already established. You will need a category D building which covers places like churches, church halls, meeting halls, sports complexes, dance schools, librarys etc

I think AWNW that someone has to live (or possibly be able to live) where you work

It doesn't have to be you & I am not completely convinced anyone actually has to live there - the facilities just have to be there

But I haven't tried it yet

I tried it last week, yes you are right "someone" has to live their, the property has to be predominantly residential, which makes me wonder why I live in a nursery

Would be difficult to prove tho' wouldn't it?

I mean if all your post went there, and you paid single person council tax?