Register with Ofsted or an agency
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.
Childminder agencies
Childminder agencies (CMAs) register childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises (a group of four or more childminders) and help them with training, business support, advice and finding parents. CMAs may also cover some of the upfront costs involved in becoming registered. All CMAs must register with, and 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.
Register as a childminder with Ofsted
There are two Ofsted registers - the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register.
You should join the Early Years Register if you’re caring for children aged from birth to 31 August after their fifth birthday. You will need to meet all the safeguarding and welfare and the learning and development requirements of the statutory requirements for the early years foundation stage.
Once you have joined the Childcare Register, you must meet the register requirements.
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 2 references
- a certificate of good character from an embassy - if you’ve lived abroad in the past 5 years
Start your application to register as a childminder
It costs £35 to register with Ofsted and takes up to 12 weeks to process the application. Costs for registering with a childminder agency are set by each organisation.