Becoming a registered childminder

Everything you need to know about Childminding in just 2 hours

If you're interested in becoming a registered Childminder in Brighton & Hove, come along to our pre-registration information briefing which will give you all the information you need to help you decide if childminding is for you.

We'll give you guidance, advice and handbooks to get you started.

Dates of our next pre-registration information briefings 

Each session is 2 hours long. We're currently holding these sessions online.

It's essential to pre-book a place because numbers are limited.

The next session is on:

• Thursday 12 October 2023, 6pm to 8pm

To attend, complete our Childminder pre-registration information briefing booking form.

What childminding is

If you're looking to provide care and learning opportunities for children, to whom you are not related, in your own home, for more than 2 hours per day, for reward, then you must register with Ofsted as a childminder.

Ofsted have a registration process in place for becoming a childminder to ensure that people looking to become childminders are suitable people, have suitable premises and a certain level of skills, knowledge and competency to fulfil the role.

What skills/qualifications do you need to become a childminder

This list gives a good overview of the responsibilities of the role of a childminder. If you feel you have these qualities, skills and experience and are eager to learn, then come along and we can guide you through the required Ofsted pre-registration training.

• Advertising - to market and advertise your own business
• Bookkeeping - essential skills to ensure ongoing records such as attendance registers, learning records, accounts, policies and procedures, risk assessments etc. are maintained and regularly updated
• Communication skills - to liaise with parents, other professionals and the children
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) - knowledge of the play-based curriculum to support children in meeting Early Learning Goals and  being able to evidence this
• Health and safety - good understanding to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children to play and learn
• Quality Childcare knowledge - to meet each individual child's welfare needs
• Nutrition - children must be offered nutritional balance all day
• Safeguarding - training will be offered to support childminders to keep up-to-date with local and national advice and information regarding keeping children safe
• Training - to ensure your continued professional development, childminders must attend regular training in the evenings or at weekends
• Working with others - childminders will be supporting the provision of the 30 hours of free childcare and must build working relationships with other settings, the local community and parents to ensure children’s experiences

Find a childminder

If you're a parent or carer looking for a Childminder in Brighton & Hove, you can use the Family Information Service to find Childminders and childcare in your area.