Childminder Policies & Procedures: Which Ones You Need

Do childminders have to write their policies down?

No. Under the EYFS statutory framework for childminders (from September 2026, paragraph 3.6), childminders registered only on the Early Years Register, or with an early years childminder agency, do not have to keep written policies and procedures. You must still have them, follow them, and be able to explain them to parents, carers and Ofsted. Any assistant who works with you must follow them too.

In practice most childminders write them down anyway. A written policy is easier to share with a new family and easier to talk an inspector through. It is also easier to keep up to date, and you aren't relying on memory on a stressful day.

The policies the EYFS asks you to have

The framework names these areas directly. An inspector may ask you to talk through any of them.

Policy	What it must cover
Safeguarding	It must cover (EYFS 3.7): what you do when you are worried about a child what happens if an allegation is made against anyone living, working or looking after children in your home how mobile phones, cameras and other devices are used how you check the suitability of anyone new how your safeguarding training is kept current
Children who are ill or infectious	How you tell parents, what you do when a child is unwell, and the steps you take to stop infection spreading (EYFS 3.59).
Administering medicines	How you get each child's medicine information and keep it up to date, written parental permission, and a record of every dose given (EYFS 3.60).
Uncollected and missing children	What happens if a parent does not collect a child on time, and what you do if a child goes missing at or away from your setting. Parents must be told about both (EYFS 3.99).
Behaviour	How you support children's behaviour. You must never give or threaten corporal punishment, or any punishment that could harm a child's wellbeing (EYFS 3.74).
Complaints	How you investigate written complaints, your reply within 28 days, the record you keep, and how parents can contact Ofsted or your agency (EYFS 3.100–3.101).

The policies most childminders add

The framework doesn't name all of these as separate policies, but each covers a duty it does set out. Parents and inspectors expect to hear your approach.

• Equality and inclusion, including how you support children with special educational needs and disabilities. Parents must be told how you do this.
• Health and safety and risk assessment, including outings. Outing risk assessments do not have to be written down, but you must do them.
• Accidents and first aid. This one does need a written record of every accident, injury and first aid treatment. Share it with parents the same day, or as soon as you reasonably can.
• Food and drink, including allergies and dietary needs.
• Safe sleep, especially if you care for babies.
• Data protection: what you hold about families, where it is kept, how long for, and how parents can see it.
• Working with parents: how you share progress and how parents can share learning from home.

Make them yours, not a copy

An inspector is not marking how polished a document looks. They want to know that the policy describes what really happens in your home. A safeguarding policy that names the wrong local authority suggests you haven't read it. So does a sleep policy that describes a nursery sleep room you don't have.

Before you rely on any template, check that it has:

• Your name, your setting and the correct local safeguarding contacts, including your local authority designated officer (LADO).
• Your real routines: your home, your garden, your car, your school runs.
• A review date, and a note of when you last read it.

Review and share them

Read your policies at least once a year. Read them again whenever something changes, such as:

• a new framework
• a new assistant
• someone moving into your home
• a new pet
• an incident

Give new families a copy, or talk them through each policy at the settling-in visit. Then ask them to sign to say they have read it.

When an inspector asks "talk me through what you would do if…", the best answer sounds like your policy, in your own words. That is the real test of whether a policy works.

Sources

Department for Education (GOV.UK): Early years foundation stage statutory framework for childminders, from September 2026 — paragraphs 3.6, 3.7, 3.59, 3.60, 3.74, 3.77, 3.99–3.101.