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How to register as a childminder in England

To register as a childminder in England you apply to Ofsted or to a childminder agency. You will need an enhanced DBS check with barred lists, first aid training for the age group you will look after, a health declaration booklet and two references. GOV.UK says Ofsted usually takes up to 12 weeks to process an application, and you cannot start work until you have your certificate of registration.

Checked 5 October 2026 against GOV.UK: register as a childminder, GOV.UK: Ofsted fees and the EYFS framework.

Below is a free tracker that walks you from first thoughts to the day your first family arrives. Tick things off as you go. Your progress saves on this device, so you can pick up where you left off.

Start with step 1 See costs and the order of steps Full Ofsted registration guide Common questions

Six steps. Written for childminders in England. No account needed.

An open front door onto a welcoming hallway with small coats on low pegs and tiny wellies

What it costs

Prices vary and fees change. The only amount we quote is the Ofsted fee, checked on GOV.UK on 5 October 2026. Check each of the others before you budget.

Paediatric first aidFull course of at least 12 hours, renewed every 3 years. Compare a few providers.
Varies
Safeguarding training
Varies
Food hygiene trainingIf you will prepare food for children
Varies
Ofsted application fee£35 for a childminder caring for children aged 5 or under, or of all ages; £103 if only aged 5 or older. Paid every year. At 5 October 2026
Ofsted fees on GOV.UK
Enhanced DBS checkFor you and each person aged 16 or over living or working on your premises
Current fee on GOV.UK
DBS Update ServiceOptional. Ofsted strongly recommends it
Check on GOV.UK
Health declaration from your GPYour GP may charge for this
Varies
Home safety equipmentStair gates, socket covers, locks
Varies
Public liability insuranceSpecialist childminder cover. Ask your insurer what level they recommend, and compare quotes
Varies
Resources and toys
Varies
Policies, forms and documentsPolicy & Play membership
£14.99/mo

The order things happen in

Ofsted aims to complete most childminder applications within 12 weeks, though some take longer (for example, delays with other agencies or extra enquiries).

First
Research and decide. Check your property rules (rented, leasehold and council homes need written permission), look at your outdoor space, and talk to childminders.
Then
Book your training: paediatric first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene.
Book early. Popular courses can fill up.
Alongside
Start the enhanced DBS checks for you and everyone aged 16 or over living or working on your premises, following Ofsted’s instructions.
DBS checks usually take up to about six weeks, but can take longer, so start early.
Before you apply
Complete your courses and collect your certificates.
Track it with the CPD training log
Prepare your home
Risk assessments, safety equipment, and your policies and forms.
Membership has 20+ policies and forms, filled in for you
Apply
Apply to Ofsted online. Everyone aged 16 or over connected to your application also completes a declaration.
Check you’re ready with the Ofsted readiness checklist
Ofsted checks
Ofsted completes its suitability checks, then arranges your registration visit. It aims to complete most childminder applications within 12 weeks, though some take longer.
Use the wait to finish your paperwork. Do not take on paying minded children until your registration is confirmed.
Registration
Your registration certificate arrives. You can now take on children.
Ongoing
Set up your contracts and records, and welcome your first family.
Parent contract, child records, attendance register and more

Your six steps

Open a step, tick each task as you finish it, then mark the step complete to move on.

Full Ofsted registration guide

Step 1 of 6
0%

DBS done. Now for the paperwork

Step 4 is where most people stall. You'll want your policies and forms ready before your Ofsted visit. Your membership has every one, written for childminders and filled in with your details.

Get your membership for £14.99/mo

Steps 4–6 need 20+ documents. Your membership has every policy and form, filled in for you.

£14.99/mo

Common questions

Short answers about registering as a childminder in England, checked on 5 October 2026.

How much does it cost to register as a childminder?

The Ofsted registration fee for a childminder is £35 if you care for children aged 5 or under or for children of all ages, and £103 if you care only for children aged 5 or older. This is the fee on GOV.UK at 5 October 2026, and you pay it every year. DBS checks, first aid training, insurance and the GP health declaration are paid separately and vary.

How long does it take to register as a childminder?

GOV.UK says it usually takes up to 12 weeks for Ofsted to process a childminder application. How long the whole route takes also depends on how quickly you finish your first aid training and DBS checks, so start those early. You cannot start work as a childminder until you have your certificate of registration.

Do I register with Ofsted or a childminder agency?

To register as a childminder in England you can choose Ofsted or a childminder agency, and GOV.UK has a list of agencies. If you register with an agency, the agency does your registration visit instead of Ofsted, and you agree the costs with the agency directly. Our comparison of the two routes goes into more detail.

What do I need in my home to be a childminder?

The EYFS framework for childminders says your premises, including floor space and outdoor spaces, must be fit for purpose and suitable for the children (paragraph 3.79). You need an emergency evacuation procedure and working fire detection equipment (3.80). Smoking is not allowed in or on the premises when children are present (3.30), banned dog breeds must not be on the premises (3.81), and children need daily outdoor access (3.85).

Do I need a qualification to be a childminder?

GOV.UK lists what you need to register as a childminder: an enhanced DBS check, first aid training, a health declaration booklet and two references. It does not list a minimum childcare qualification. The EYFS framework for childminders requires a full paediatric first aid certificate to register, renewed every three years (paragraph 3.42).

Do I register as self-employed as a childminder?

Registering with Ofsted does not register you with HMRC. If you will work for yourself, GOV.UK explains how to set up as self-employed and register as a sole trader. Check the steps and deadlines there, or ask an accountant, before you start to charge for childcare.

How do I re-register as a childminder?

GOV.UK describes an annual registration fee and keeping your details up to date for registered childminders, not a separate yearly re-registration. If your registration has ended or you are unsure what to do, ask Ofsted at [email protected], and read the GOV.UK guidance for registered childminders.

Is childminder registration the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

No. This page covers England, where childminders register with Ofsted or a childminder agency. Childminder registration in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is handled by a different regulator in each nation. Check GOV.UK for the process where you live.

More questions

And when you're getting close, two member guides help you prepare for the Ofsted visit itself.

Ofsted form decoder Practice questions with model answers
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. If you live in a leasehold flat, you need permission from the freeholder or management company, not just your landlord.
The EYFS says childminders must have policies and procedures and be able to explain them to parents and Ofsted. Our registration guide recommends having them written and ready for your registration visit. You'll need policies on safeguarding (including mobile phones and cameras), children who are ill, giving medicines, uncollected and missing children, behaviour and complaints. Most childminders also cover health and safety, outings, equal opportunities and confidentiality. All of these are included in your Policy & Play membership, autofilled with your setting details.
Working alone you can care for a maximum of 6 children under the age of 8. Of these, no more than 3 may be young children (until 1 September after their 5th birthday), and only 1 may be under the age of 1. Your own children count in these ratios if they are under 8 years old. Your registration certificate states the exact limits that apply to you.
Two mugs of tea on a park bench beside a pushchair on an autumn afternoon

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

Working on your own is one of the hardest parts of childminding, and nobody warns you about it. Long days with no adult conversation, no colleague to vent to, no one to ask "am I doing this right?" Here's what 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, which has thousands of members.
  • Children's centres vary a lot. Try a few different sessions at different times before writing them off.
  • Consistency matters: showing up to the same session every week 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. Paperwork expands 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 load is doubled. Protect your evenings deliberately.
  • Talk to your GP if low mood persists.

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 meet-up" post in local parent groups, not just childminder groups.
  • Some childminders find more connection through toddler yoga, rhyme time or music classes than formal childminder meets.

Looking after yourself day to day

  • Treat training days like social time. They get you out of the house and into adult company.
  • Keep a short "done well" list. Working alone means no one tells you when you're doing great.
  • Join a local childcare WhatsApp group just for quick questions.
  • Ask your local authority about a childminder mentor: someone who has been doing it for years.
  • If a parent is particularly supportive, that relationship matters.

PACEY Mind (mental health) Childminding Forum UK