Become a childminder or nanny (England)
Register as a childminder based outside the home
You must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency to look after children in a place outside the home. This is known as a 鈥榗hildminder without domestic premises鈥�.
You can look after children in a place such as:
- a church hall
- a school
- an office building
- an outdoor area
The place will need to be approved by Ofsted.
If you want to look after children in your own home or someone else鈥檚 home, you should register as a childminder based at home instead.
There鈥檚 more information about what Ofsted need to know about the place you鈥檒l be childminding from when you register.
There鈥檚 a list of childminder agencies you can register with.
If a total of 5 or more people are working together to provide childcare, you鈥檒l need to register with Ofsted as a nursery or other childcare instead.
Registering as a childminder outside the home with Ofsted
You鈥檒l need:
- an enhanced check with barred lists for childminders and childcare workers from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- first aid training for the age group you will look after
- a health declaration form
- contact details for 2 references
- a certificate of good character, also known as a criminal records check, from an embassy - if you鈥檝e lived abroad in the past 5 years
Ofsted will reject your application if you do not have the correct documents.
Checks on other people helping with childcare
You must tell Ofsted about new people aged 16 or over who are helping with childcare where the childcare takes place.
They鈥檒l need an enhanced check with barred lists for childminders and childcare workers.
They鈥檒l also need to get a certificate of good character from an embassy if they鈥檝e lived abroad in the last 5 years.
How long it takes
It usually takes up to 12 weeks to process your application.
Register online
It should take you about 30 minutes to fill in the form.