What is a Registered childminder?
A Registered Childminder is…
"A person acts as a childminder if – (a) they look after one or more children under the age of twelve for reward; and (b) the period, or the total of the periods, which they spend so looking after children in any day exceeds two hours."
If you enjoy working with children and can provide a safe, stimulating, positive environment in your home, then childminding could be the career for you.
How do I become a childminder?
To look after other people’s children in your own home, you MUST, by law be registered with the Health & Social Care Trust unless you are related to the child. Your first step is to contact your local Early Years Team and complete a Childminding Enquiry form. On receipt of this form, your name will then be forwarded to NICMA and you will be invited to attend a PRE-REGISTRATION BRIEFING SESSION, which will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed choice about childminding as a career.
If you wish to chat informally about the process of becoming registered before applying, contact your local Childminding Development Officer - Click Here For Details
This session will provide you with information on the role of the registered childminder, the registration process and a brief introduction to what is involved in running your business. Following the session, if you still wish to proceed you will be given an application form and all necessary vetting forms to continue. You will then be required to attend Core Training in Safeguarding Children, Health & Safety and First Aid.
Registered Childminders are self-employed daycare providers who work in their own home to provide care and education for other peoples children within a family setting. They are inspected and registered by the Health & Social Care Trust on a regular basis. Registered Childminders may be registered to care for up to 6 children between the ages of 0 - 12 years of age (including their own children)
Only Registered childminding is eligible for the Childcare Element of the Working Tax Credit for working parents
What does registration mean?
A Childminder MUST BY LAW register with the local Health and Social Services Trust. The purpose of registration is:
- To protect children
- To provide reassurance to parents using childcare
- To ensure that childminding services meet acceptable standards
In order to become registered a Childminder is required to comply with standards of safety, equipment, numbers of children etc. The home environment is checked to ensure that it meets the standards required and that it is suitable to care for children. References and health checks are required as are criminal record checks on all individuals in the household over the age of 10. The Children (NI) Order 1995 states that registration should be completed within three months of receipt of the completed application form. Following on from registration, childminders are inspected annually by the Health and Social Care Trust.
Want to find out more? Contact NICMA or download information pack below.