Support for early years providers – Herefordshire Council

Becoming a childminder

What is a childminder?

Childminders on domestic premises

A childminder is a person who is registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency and receives payment for working in their own home (domestic premises), looking after at least one child for more than two hours a day. This type of registration allows childminders to work for some of the time on non-domestic premises.

Childminders can work alone or with other childminders and assistants. You can only have a maximum of four adults, including yourself, working at the same time.

If at any time, five or more people want to work together, this would be 'group provision' and the group would need to register separately as a nursery or as childcare on domestic premises.

For further guidance see the government's Become a childminder or nanny page.

Childminders without domestic premises (CMWDP)

A 'childminder without domestic premises' is a childminder who works solely from somewhere other than a home, like a community or village hall. Childminders without domestic premises cannot work from their or anyone else's home at any time under this type of registration.

You will need to register a primary premises with Ofsted or a childminder agency, the place where you mainly work from. You can have multiple approved non-domestic premises but can only provide care from one premises at any one time.

You can only have a maximum of four adults, including yourself, working at the same time. More than four people working together as a group at any one time is a childcare on non-domestic premises registration (CONDP).

For further guidance see the government's Register as a childminder without domestic premises page.

Become a childminder in Herefordshire

In Herefordshire there are many families with young children who need quality childcare services. That's why we're looking for childminders who can provide a safe and nurturing environment for children in their homes. If you love working with children and have a home that is suitable for childcare we want to hear from you. Being a childminder is a rewarding job that can make a real difference in the lives of young children providing the building blocks for future learning and education alongside enabling you to work from home and to meet your own family's needs.

We can provide advice and support to help you through the process of becoming a childminder, and with the launch of the new childminder grant scheme, new childminders can apply for a £600 grant when registering with Ofsted or a £1200 grant when registering with the Childminder Agency. This grant is coming to an end on 31 March 2025. So if you're interested in becoming a childminder email today at earlyyears@herefordshire.gov.uk We're here to help and support you.

What is a nanny or home child carer?

Nannies are also known as home child carers and look after children of any age in the child's own home.

Childminders and childcare providers: register with Ofsted.

Childcare on Domestic Premises (CoDP)

You are a Childcare on Domestic Premises (CoDP), a type of group provision, and can register with Ofsted or a childminder agency if you are:

Caring for children aged 0-8 years old (not including those you have parental responsibility for, or are otherwise related to)
On a domestic premises and any approved non-domestic premises for some of the time
For payment or reward
For more than 2 hours a day
If at any time there are 5 or more people, working as a group to provide or assist with childcare
If the number of people frequently falls below 5, the provider may wish to register as a childminder for those times

As a CODP, you must apply to register with Ofsted/CMA again if you wish to move domestic premises.

As a CoDP, you must gain approval from Ofsted/CMA before operating from any non-domestic premises.

For further guidance see the government's Childcare on domestic premises page.

Costs and grants

For information on initial costs relating to registration fees, DBS and training and insurance see the government's Become a childminder or nanny page.

Eligible new childminders can apply for a start-up grant to recover the cost of registering as a childminder.

The government has information about the childminder start-up grant scheme.

Requirements for running a business

You may also need to contact the following agencies to see if you will be able to meet other requirements that may apply once you are running your business:

Fire safety
Planning permission and building control
Information Commissioner's Office
Food Standards Agency

As a registered childminder you must register as self-employed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within three months of starting work.

For further guidance on running a business you can refer to Hempsalls Business Support Toolkit and PACEY Business Smart.

Additional information related to Ofsted

Additional information related to starting a business

Additional information related to funding

Further advice

For pre-registration advice and any further queries, please email earlyyears@herefordshire.gov.uk