Childcare, Early Education or Playwork Careers

Becoming a Childminder

Registered childminders provide full or part time care and learning opportunities for other people's children in their own home.

They are registered to look after children under 8 years of age for more than 2 hours a day, in their own home for payment or reward. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education).

The Childcare Act 2006 requires local authorities to secure sufficient childcare provision for the needs of working parents in their area for children up to the age of 14 (or 17 for disabled children).

We have undertaken a review of registered childminder places and this has shown that we have sufficient childminders in the borough with high vacancy rates; we will therefore not be registering childminders until further notice.

If you wish to register as a childminder you will have to pursue this on your own. We have put together some information on the training you will need to complete before you can apply to Ofsted. You will have to fund this training yourself.

If you have any queries please email cmapps@lbbd.gov.uk or phone us on 020 8227 5395.

1. Read the Childminding Information Sheet|

2. Order your copy of the Early Years Foundation Stage (see 3 and 4 on the Childminding Information Sheet)

3. Research training providers for cost, times and venues for:

Introduction to Childcare Practice
Paediatric First Aid
Basic Food Hygiene

(See information on Training Providers for Childminding Applicants)

4. Book a place for yourself on the above courses.

5. Once all this training has been completed you can contact the Family Information Service on 020 8227 5395 or fis@lbbd.gov.uk. We will need to verify your training has been completed before sending you an Ofsted application pack. (We will arrange an appointment at your local Children's Centre to show your childminding development officer your certificates)

6. When your childminding development officer has verified your certificates they will give you an Ofsted application pack.

7. Complete the application pack and send it off to Ofsted. (Please be sure that you and your premises are ready to register as an Ofsted Inspector will visit you in your home within two to four weeks of receiving your application. Registration can take up to 12 weeks depending on the return of checks and references)

8. Ofsted will notify the Family Information Service when your registration is complete. You will be allocated a Childminding Development Officer based at your local Children's Centre. They will arrange to visit you to discuss the support available to registered childminders in Barking and Dagenham.

Contact

Joan Gibbons

Family Information Service

3rd Floor

Bridge House

150 London Road

Barking

IG11 8BB

Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:

Tel: 020 8215 3004

Fax: 020 8227 5184

Minicom: 020 8227 5755

Email: fis@lbbd.gov.uk|

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm.

Useful web links

National Childminding Association of England and Wales|