Setting up as a childminder

[SundayGirl1]

I’m considering setting up as a childminder in the next year or two. There is only one other in our local area and she always has long waiting lists, so I think there is a bit of a gap in the market. Just wondering if anyone has done this, how easy:difficult it was to get started, how you promoted yourself, how easy/difficult it is to pay your own tax, what insurances etc. you would need.

Currently work in a school so I have advanced DBS etc.

Also just wondering how viable it is to make a career from - I’m in the West Mids so not sure what the going hourly rate tends to be.

Thanks in advance!

Contact your local council’s early years team. They will be able to give you loads of assistance. Also have a look at Corum Pacey. They are a trade body for childminders and have loads of useful resources.
You can make a good living out of childminding. The government funding side can be tricky due to its technical aspects but your council can help with setting all that up.

@GreatSave Thank you so much for this - gives me a great starting point 👍 x

Be aware that your neighbours may not be so keen on the idea of a bunch of noisy kids plus cars picking up and dropping off twice a day. Unless you live in a detached house with plenty of space around.

She’s not planning to open a school

As pp said your local council early years team will signpost you to everything. As someone who has been a childminder and went back to working in a setting, I would consider the following...
Your home and garden being taken over, unless you have dedicated rooms use of course.
The impact on your own children.

I was a registered childminder 20 years ago when my dc were little and it worked really well for my family. I cant comment on the registration process because I'm out of date there, but the pros outweighed the cons. My dc had me at home and we did lots of fun activities they could join in. I built up a network of other local CMs and we used to swap toys and equipment around as needed abd helped each other out in emergencies (with parent consent of course). I was lucky to have a playroom so the childminding was largely contained there and the garden.

I stopped when my youngest started secondary school and I was done by then. I did enjoy it though and earned a decent living.

Just set up and opening in September. dBS isn’t transferable so you’ll need a new one and so will anyone over 16 in your house. You will need to email the local constabulary and claim financial hardship as DBS are taking a stupid amount of time, someone I know waited 8 months recently. I emailed and mine were done the next day.

You’ll need a DSL course, paediatric first aid and food safety level 2. You’ll need to know the EYFS inside out including British Values, safeguarding and what to do in various situation, safe recruitment, safe eating and safe sleeping. Ofsted will ask you to show a planned activity and how you will differentiate it.