What is a childminder?
A childminder is a registered childcare professional who looks after children in their own home for more than two hours a day and receives payment for their services. Childminders offer a warm, home-based setting where children can learn, play, and thrive — often forming close bonds in a family-style environment.
Choosing to become a childminder means you can:
- Be your own boss
- Work from home
- Set your own hours
- Build a career that fits around your family and commitments
It’s a rewarding role that allows you to support children in your local community, helping them grow and develop through play, routine, and real-life experiences. Childminders follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and are regulated by Ofsted or a childminder agency, ensuring high standards of care and education.
What is a childminder without domestic premises?
A childminder without domestic premises is a registered childcare professional who cares for children exclusively in non-domestic settings - meaning they do not work from a home environment. These childminders still provide high-quality care and early education, but in places such as:
- Schools (for example, offering wraparound or school-based childcare)
- Community centres
- Dedicated spaces within local businesses.
This model offers greater flexibility for both childminders and families. For example, a business with a suitable space could host an onsite childminder for employees’ children, or a group of childminders could work together in a shared community venue.
Key points
- Childminders without domestic premises must be registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency.
- They must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements, just like home-based childminders.
- All childcare activities, including drop-off and pick-up, must take place at the non-domestic location.
- They cannot operate from any building that is used solely or mainly as a home
Childminder Start-Up Grants are now available in Warwickshire
To help newly registered childminders cover the initial costs of establishing their childcare business Warwickshire County Council has opened the application process for new Childminder Start-up Grants.
This scheme, with grants of up to £1,500, is designed to increase the availability of high-quality, affordable early years education and childcare across the county. Warwickshire childminders who completed registration since 1 April 2026 are eligible to apply. The grant supports both traditional home-based childminders and childminders operating without domestic premises—such as those providing care from community centres, schools, or dedicated spaces within local businesses.
Eligible applicants can claim up to £1,200 to cover essential setup costs once their registration is active. This covers expenses such as Ofsted or childminder agency registration fees, mandatory training (including First Aid and Safeguarding), public liability insurance, and health and safety equipment.
An additional £300 payment is available for childminders who choose to deliver Early Education Funded places within their first year of registration.
This short animation shows you everything you need to know:
To request an application form and full guidance, new childminders should email earlyyearsadmin@warwickshire.gov.uk using the subject heading ‘Childminder Start-Up Grant Application’.