Hi KPPIP. I have been a registered childminder for 15 years.
Go to the NCMA website - www.NCMA.org.uk
Take a look at my website;_
www.think-small.co.uk
( I don't know how to do a link on this site so edit cut and paste)
It's a great job and you get as much out of it as you are prepared to put in. You get to stay at home with your children, watch them grow, they have on tap playmates. you choose your hours and who to work with, You decide how your day is planned, there are lots of benefits., but also downside, you will always have someone else's children around, there will always be toys around, equal opportunities to think more closely about, contracts to negotiate, accounts to keep upto date, tax and NI to sort out, but training will help with all that etc. But I love it, it's flexible and I work as a nanny as well.
I studied for the CCP (Certificate in Childmin ding Practice) which is a Cache level 3 course last year, same as doing two 'A' levels in 30 weeks.
All new childminders are to do the ICP - Introducing childminding Practice as part of their registration process.
What area are you in, I might be able to put you in touch with a local childminding group who can help you.
Good luck, you can always email me direct from my website if you want to knoiw more.