Childminders are childcare professionals, who look after one or more children for more than a total of two hours a day in their own homes for financial reward. They offer a flexible, quality service for parents and their children.
The demand for childminding services is increasing and in order to meet the needs of parents and to offer parents a choice of child care services we are looking to recruit more childminders across the Island who are flexible in meeting the needs of children and families.
As a registered childminder you would be self-employed and need to comply with Ofsted registration requirements and complete background checks. To find out about the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) and the registration process for childminders see their presentation.
You may be eligible for a Government grant of £600 towards setting up as a childminder if you register with Ofsted after 15th March 2023 see here for latest details.
Support and training
Local authority support and training is offered to prospective childminders throughout the registration process. The support and training offered by the Early Years Advisory team will equip prospective childminders with the right skills to be a successful childminder offering a quality home from home setting for children and families.
What you need to do to become a registered childminder
Before you apply to Ofsted to be registered as a childminder, you must have an understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and hold a suitable Paediatric First Aid certificate. You can choose which training provider you go to, however the course/s you undertake must meet the requirements as stated in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The local authority offer all prospective and registered early years providers and childminders the opportunity to subscribe to the 'Early Years Training Programme' where you can access a variety of training courses from both local and national trainers, including mandatory paediatric first-aid training.
Details on how to subscribe will be provided at the initial fully funded 'Early Years Foundation Stage' training sessions which are offered throughout the year. To find out when and where to access the next available course, visit the Learning and Development training pages.
Safeguarding training
Safeguarding - as the lead practitioner you must attend a child protection course that enables you to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect. The course content must meet the requirements as stated in the EYFS framework.
To find out when and where to access the next available course, visit the Learning and Development training pages.
Food hygiene
It is good practice for newly registered childminders to complete a suitable food hygiene course as soon as possible after registration and prior to their first Ofsted inspection visit. Food hygiene courses are available to Isle of Wight childminder practitioners as an E-learning package through the 'Training Subscription scheme'.
Childminders who choose not to join the training subscription scheme will need to source an alternative food hygiene course that meets the Ofsted requirements.
The Food Standards Agency has developed 'Safer food, better business for childminders' - a Food Safety management pack for registered childminders on domestic premises, who usually provide meals and drinks for the children in their care. The guidance from the FSA enables childminders to comply with all relevant food safety and hygiene regulations.
Self-employed childminders
Childminders are self-employed and HMRC provides a wealth of information for prospective childminders to help you register and maintain basic records of your self-employment.
Further information
Childminding is a great career choice for those who wish to make a difference for children and families. If you would like to know more email EYAT@iow.gov.uk to arrange for an informal discussion about local opportunities in childminding.
Other Childcare Opportunities
Apart from childminding, Early Years offers a wide range of employment opportunities working with children from 0 to 5 years old, with many leading to nationally recognised professional qualifications.
To find out more about the opportunities on offer why not visit the following today:
And finally..
If you are looking for a rewarding career, then choose Early Years, it is your opportunity to shape and influence the next generation.
Helping the children in your care with the key skills and attributes needed to make the most of their future education. Be there at the start and help lay the Early Years building blocks that last a lifetime!