Childcare qualifications and training

Registered childminders are professionals – this means they do not simply babysit someone else’s child for a fee.

In order to legally look after other people’s children, childminders need to be trained, registered and then inspected by a governmental body to ensure they meet the standards expected by the childcare profession.

All registered childminders must have the appropriate childminding qualifications, training and skills to fulfil their childminding duties. As all childminders have to undergo training to become a childminder, this in itself can take between 3 and 6 months, and without prior childcare qualifications this could require additional training, such as BTEC, NVQ or A level, to support and understand children’s developments, so this is not a quick profession to jump into.

If you do not have suitable childcare qualifications, this may hamper your business development, as parents prefer to leave their children with well qualified professionals.

All childminders must undergo initial training before they are registered. This training forms part of the level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce, which must be completed to become a fully-accredited childminder.

The initial training makes up one of the units of the diploma and is known as the CYPOP5: “Understand how to set up a home-based childcare service”. Many local authorities run their own childcare courses, so you should check these first before enrolling onto a course.

Childcare courses are generally made up of modules covering areas such as: preparing your setting, ensuring the safety of children, examples of play and activities and partnering with parents. Many courses are delivered online, while some expect you to attend sessions depending on the module.

Childminders must also hold a Paediatric First Aid Certificate, which is approved by the local authority or FIS (Family Information Authority) before they are registered. Local authorities are likely to offer schemes, but training can also be sought from organisations such as: St Johns Ambulance and the British Red Cross who provide one day courses at their centres across the UK.

Once all the necessary training is complete you then need to join the Ofsted Early Years Register, which in itself can take a few months to complete.

You will also need to apply for a DBS, for yourself and anyone else over the age of 16 living with you.

Undergoing a medical to prove you are fit and healthy to work as a childminder will also incur a fee from the doctor, but is another vital part of the process.

Once all the training and checks have been completed, an inspection of your house will be carried out by Ofsted to determine suitability for childcare and ask questions about how your business is to be run.

Before any children are accepted, you should prepare your policies and procedures documents, which are necessary for the childminding insurance you will need to take out.

Ongoing training is also a must, to keep up to date with changes in the profession and new developments, which will be scrutinized by Ofsted or the CSSIW.