Register with Ofsted or an agency
If you want to look after children under the age of eight for more than two hours a day and receive payment (including payment in kind), you must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency (CMA). This applies whether you’re caring for children in your own home, someone else’s home, or from non-domestic premises such as a community hall, school, or office building.
Types of registration
There are two main types of childminder registration:
- Childminders on domestic premises – caring for children in your own home.
- Childminders without domestic premises – caring for children solely from non-domestic premises. You cannot use any home setting at any time under this registration.
You must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency to look after children in your home. If you’re looking after children in their own home, you should register with Ofsted as a nanny or au pair instead.
There are some situations when you do not have to register with Ofsted, and some when you cannot register. Find out more about registration exemptions and when to join the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.
Ofsted registers
Depending on the age of the children you care for, you may need to join one or both of the following:
- Early Years Register – for children from birth to 31 August after their fifth birthday. You must meet all safeguarding, welfare, and learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
- Childcare Register – split into:
- Compulsory part – for children aged five to eight.
- Voluntary part – for children over eight or if you’re exempt but choose to register.
Registering as a childminder with Ofsted
To register as a childminder with Ofsted you will need:
- an enhanced check with barred lists for home based workers from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- first aid training for the age group you will look after
- a health declaration booklet
- contact details for two references
- a certificate of good character from an embassy - if you’ve lived abroad in the past five years
Start your application to register as an Ofsted childminder
Childminder Agencies (CMAs)
CMAs register childminders; childminders working from non-domestic premises and providers of childcare on domestic premises (groups of four or more childminders).
They offer:
- Training support – Initial training and ongoing CPD (Continuing professional development.
- Business and Administrative Support
- Help finding parents
- Coverage of some upfront registration costs
All CMAs are regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
Childminder agencies: list of agencies - provides contact information for CMAs that are open for applications.
Ofsted CMA inspection report - lists all registered CMAs including those who are not registering new childminders.
Costs and processing time
- Ofsted registration - £35, with processing taking up to 12 weeks.
- CMA registration - vary by agency.