Free Registration Tracker

Become a Childminder — Your Step-by-Step Tracker

Tick off every task from first research to registration day. Your progress saves automatically so you can pick up where you left off.

6 steps to registration Saves your progress Every document included Written for UK childminders

💰 Typical startup costs

Paediatric First AidIn-person, valid 3 years
£80–£150
Childminding introductory courseOften free via Local Authority
£0–£80
Safeguarding training
£20–£60
Food Hygiene Level 2
£20–£50
Ofsted application fee
£35
Enhanced DBS checkPer person in household aged 16+
£40 each
DBS Update ServiceRecommended — saves future re-applications
£16/year
Home safety equipmentStair gates, socket covers, locks
£50–£200
Public liability insuranceMin. £5m cover — PACEY, NCMA
£150–£300/yr
Resources & toys
£200–£500
Policies, forms & documentsPolicyAndPlay Starter Pack
from £29
Typical total startup cost £600–£1,400

📅 Typical timeline

Week 1–2
Research & decide — check property rules (rented/leasehold/council need written permission), assess outdoor space, talk to childminders
Week 2–4
Book training — First Aid, introductory course, safeguarding, food hygiene
Book early — popular courses fill up fast
Week 2–8
Apply for DBS checks — you and all household members aged 16+
DBS checks take 2–8 weeks — apply early
Month 1–3
Complete training courses & receive certificates
📋 Track it with our CPD Training Log →
Month 2–4
Prepare your home — risk assessments, safety equipment, write all policies & forms
Allow 4–6 weeks for paperwork
🚀 Starter Pack — all 20+ policies & forms, autofilled, from £29 →
Month 3–4
Apply to Ofsted online (£35 fee)
✅ Check you're ready with our Ofsted Readiness Checklist →
Month 4–10
Ofsted processes your application & arranges registration visit
Ofsted currently take 3–6 months — use the time to finish your paperwork
📄 Use the wait — get your Starter Pack sorted now →
Month 8–12
Registration certificate received — you can now take on children 🎉
Ongoing
Set up insurance, contracts, records — welcome your first family
👶 Parent Contract, Child Records, Attendance Register & more →
Step 1 of 6
0% Reset

✅ DBS done — now for the paperwork

Step 4 is where most people stall. You need 8 policies + 5 forms written and ready before your Ofsted visit. The Starter Pack has every single one — pre-written for Ofsted, autofilled with your details in 60 seconds.

Get the Starter Pack — from £29 I'll do it manually

Steps 4–6 need 20+ documents. The Starter Pack has every policy & form, autofilled.

From £29 →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a childminder?
Most people take 3–9 months from starting training to receiving their Ofsted registration certificate. The biggest variable is how quickly Ofsted process your application and arrange your registration visit — this can take 3–6 months on its own. Start your training and DBS checks as early as possible.
How much does it cost to become a childminder?
Typical start-up costs: Paediatric First Aid (£80–£150), Ofsted application fee (£35), DBS check (£40 per person), public liability insurance (£150–£300/year), home safety equipment (£50–£200), resources and toys (£200–£500), documentation and policies. Many local authorities offer free introductory training which reduces costs significantly.
Do I need a Level 3 qualification?
You need a Level 3 qualification if you want to be counted in ratio when caring for children aged 5 and over in a school or group setting. For childminding from home, you need to complete a childminding introductory course — your local authority can usually tell you exactly which course they accept.
Can I childmind from a rented property, flat or council house?
Yes — you can childmind from a rented property, leasehold flat, housing association home or council property. In every case you need written permission from the relevant party (landlord, freeholder, housing association or council) before applying to Ofsted. Keep a copy of the permission letter for your inspection records. Most landlords and councils allow it — they just need to be asked formally. If you live in a leasehold flat, note that you need permission from the freeholder or management company, not just your landlord.
What policies do I need for Ofsted?
Ofsted requires written policies covering safeguarding, health and safety, behaviour management, confidentiality, complaints, equal opportunities, no smoking/alcohol/drugs, outings and medication. All of these are included in the PolicyAndPlay Starter Pack, autofilled with your setting details.
How many children can I look after?
Working alone you can care for a maximum of 6 children, of whom no more than 3 may be under the age of 5, and no more than 1 may be under the age of 1. Your own children count in these ratios if they are under 8 years old.
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Prepare for your Ofsted inspection

Form Decoder: visualise all 10 categories of the EY2/EY3 with decision flows & impact ratings. Practice Questions: 60+ interview Q&As on safeguarding, EYFS, child development with model answers. Skip the mistakes that delay or refuse 1 in 4 applications.

Form Decoder → Practice Q&s →
Wellbeing & Support

You're not alone — even when it feels that way

Lone working is one of the hardest parts of childminding that nobody warns you about. Long days with no adult conversation, no colleague to vent to, no one to ask "am I doing this right?" — it's genuinely tough. Here's what actually helps.

🤝

Finding your network

  • Contact your local authority's Early Years team — many run free childminder networks or "cluster groups" that meet regularly
  • Search Facebook for "[your area] childminders" — local groups are often more active than you'd expect
  • Try the Childminding Forum UK Facebook group — thousands of members, 24/7 support
  • PACEY membership includes access to local networks and events
  • NCMA has local branches — even one familiar face at a termly meeting helps
  • Children's Centres vary wildly — try a few different sessions at different times before writing them off
  • Consistency matters: showing up to the same session weekly means faces eventually become friends
🧠

Managing the mental load

  • Name what you're feeling — isolation and burnout are occupational hazards, not personal failings
  • Build at least one "adult conversation" into your week that has nothing to do with childcare
  • Set a cut-off time for admin — the paperwork will always expand to fill the time you give it
  • Use nap times for something that restores you, not just more tasks
  • If you're a single parent too, the mental load is doubled — protect your evenings deliberately
  • Talk to your GP if low mood persists — childminder isolation is a real and recognised issue
  • Supervision sessions (some LAs offer these free) give you space to process difficult situations
💬

When networking isn't working

  • If local childminders aren't engaging, it's usually not personal — many are exhausted and stretched too
  • A message to someone miles away is still worth having — remote support counts
  • Try a "park meetup" post in local parent groups, not just childminder groups — parents with similar-aged children can be great informal company
  • Some childminders find more connection through toddler yoga, rhyme time or music classes than formal childminder meets
  • Online communities like the PACEY forum and Reddit's r/childminding can fill gaps when local networks are thin
📋

Practical self-care for the day-to-day

  • Treat your CPD like social time — training days get you out of the house and into adult company
  • Keep a short "done well" list — solo work means no one tells you when you're doing great
  • Join a local childcare WhatsApp group just for quick questions — reduces the "am I the only one?" feeling
  • Consider a childminder mentor through your LA — someone who's been doing it for years and can talk you through rough patches
  • If a parent is particularly supportive, that relationship matters — don't underestimate the value of genuine rapport with families

"I've tried everything — the directory, Facebook, even the LA. I just want someone to meet with, talk through the day, discuss issues. Maybe just a chat at the park. The children's centre is often empty, the park is often empty. It can feel like you're the only one."

— Childminder, shared in an online forum
Useful links: PACEY NCMA Mind (mental health) Childminding Forum UK