Becoming a childminder in Tower Hamlets

Registered childminders are self-employed and run their own business from their home, caring for other
people’s children. They provide a home-based childcare setting for small groups of children of different
ages. Working as a childminder is a very rewarding career.


The early years workforce development team can:

Give Tower Hamlets residents guidance on routes into childminding through our information session;

Provide residents with advice on appropriate training opportunities to become a childminder;

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Help residents register with Ofsted.
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Information you can find on this page:

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Information session
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What is a childminder?
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Can I register?
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How long will it take?
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Childminding drop-in sessions
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Contact details of Early Years Advisors
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More information 
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Useful Childminder resources

Information session

We offer group information sessions led by our Early Years Advisors team who will provide in-depth advice on the process of becoming a registered childminder in Tower Hamlets.

By the end of the session you will be informed of what you can expect from childminding, what is expected of you and have an understanding of the Ofsted registration process. Our information sessions aim to help you establish if childminding is a career option for you. There will be many opportunities at the session to ask questions.

The group information sessions are delivered over a two-hour period.

Crèche facilities are not available at the sessions, therefore if needed you are advised to arrange childcare prior to the day.

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What is a childminder?

A person who regularly looks after children under eight years of age who are not the parents or close relatives of the children in their care, for reward or pay, in their own home, is required to register with Ofsted. Ofsted is the government department responsible for registering and inspecting childminders in England.

It is illegal for an unregistered person to look after children under eight years old for reward of pay for more than two hours a day.

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Can I register?

You can register as a childminder if you:

have the right to work in the UK
are aged 18 or over
are allowed to work with children – you’ll need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check beforehand, along with everyone else you live with aged over 16
are physically and mentally capable of caring for children. Your doctor will have to sign a health declaration booklet to confirm this.

You cannot register as a childminder if you:

are barred from working with children
have been refused registration previously
have had your registration cancelled for a reason other than for not paying your annual fee
live in the same place as someone else who is disqualified.

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What you need to do to register

Before you submit an Ofsted application to register as a childminder, you will need to complete a:

DSB (disclosure and barring service) check;
health declaration signed by your GP;
relevant and valid paediatric first aid certificate (full certificate 12 hour course);
CACHE Level 3 Award in Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare (QCF) or a full and relevant childcare qualification at level 3 or above.

People living or working in the childminders household aged 16 or over will have to have a DBS check.

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How long will it take?

It takes anywhere from four to nine months to register as a childminder, depending on the variables listed under the ‘What you need to do to register’ section.

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Childminding drop-in sessions

For venues and times please contact your Early Years Advisor.

Contact details of Early Years advisors

If you would like to become a childminder and would like to speak to someone to get more information and advice, you may contact one of our Early Years Advisors. Please call the advisor that deals with the area in which you reside.


Contact Name	Email address	Contact number	Area (post code)
Carol Akyeampong	carol.akyeampong@towerhamlets.gov.uk	020 7364 4144 07904 844 658	E2
Julie Ulla	julie.ulla@towerhamlets.gov.uk	020 7364 4837 07908 831 660	E1 & E1W
Sarah Champion	sarah.champion@towerhamlets.gov.uk	020 7364 4145 07904 158 757	E2 & E3 (Bow and Mile End)
Monwara Ali	monwara.ali@towerhamlets.gov.uk	020 7364 4293 07984 369790	E14 (Around Poplar & Chrisp Street)
Brenda Lubrun	brenda.lubrun@towerhamlets.gov.uk	020 7364 4495 07966 089 251	E14 (Isle of Dogs)
Pat Wells	patricia.wells@towerhamlets.gov.uk	020 7364 4896 07908 456 720	Strategic Quality Manager

More information

You can download a Childminders information sheet, where this will give you specific information on what you would need to become a childminder.

You can find more information about a career as a childminder from the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), an organisation promoting best practice and supporting childcare professionals to deliver high standards of care and learning.

Useful childminder resources

1. Administration

2. Two year old integrated review

Two year old integrated review form

3. Health and safety

4. Learning and development

5. Safeguarding

6. Statutory and guidance documents

7. What if..?

8. Useful links

Childcare and childminding associations

Ofsted contact details and links

Ofsted
Tel: 0300 123 1231
Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk
Website: Online Ofsted

Becoming a childminder

You will have to set up an online account with Ofsted.

You will be given an Ofsted key number, make sure you take a photo and write this down carefully, along with any passwords. You will not be given these again.

EYC	Childminder from
EY2 form	To be completed by members of the family or other people living in your home or visiting regularly over the age of 16.	Also for assistants
DBS	Disclosure and Barring Service	Everyone over the age of 16
Health declaration for the childminder	Google, Health Declaration 2012 form	To be printed, completed and take to the doctor for verification. This is then to be sent to Ofsted at: Ofsted Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD

Regulation

If documents below are not submitted after 8 weeks of sending off the EYC form, Ofsted will close your application:

EY2 forms
DBS checks
Health Declaration form
Application fee paid
HBCA (Preparing to work in Home Based Childcare) certificate number
First Aid certificate number

If you have not worked for 36 months after your registration, Ofsted will cancel your registration. If you do not pay the registration fee each year Ofsted will cancel your registration.

Ofsted guidance

Remember you must have a relevant and valid paediatric first aid certificate; (full certificate 12 hour course)

Further companies offering Ofsted required First Aid courses can be found on the internet and you can also access details of courses on offer by Tower Hamlets Early Years or telephone 020 7364 7947.

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