PolicyAndPlay
Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Professional & Nursery Plus
Setting Up a Website and Blog as a Childcare Setting
Topic: Digital Presence, Website & Content MarketingApplies to: Childminders · Nurseries · Pre-schoolsUpdated: 2025Reading time: ~25 minutes
A professional website is the single most powerful tool for building trust with prospective parents and filling your childminding spaces. This guide covers everything: which platform to choose, what pages to include, what to leave out, how to set up a blog, and how to make your site findable on Google — all within the UK childcare legal framework.
🌐 Why Every Childcare Setting Needs a Website
When a parent is looking for a childminder or nursery, they search online first. Over 85% of parents research childcare providers online before making contact. Your website is your 24/7 receptionist — it answers questions, builds trust, and converts browsers into enquiries while you are busy caring for children.
A professional website gives you:
Credibility: A professional site signals that you are serious, organised, and established — before a parent has even spoken to you
Vacancy visibility: Parents can find you when a space opens up, without you having to advertise on paid platforms
Reduced admin: Your website answers FAQs so parents arrive better informed, saving you time on initial enquiry calls
Ofsted evidence: A professional online presence shows Ofsted you take your business seriously
Independence from social media: Facebook and Instagram can go down, change algorithms, or suspend accounts — your website is always yours
PolicyAndPlay shortcut: Your subscription includes professionally designed website templates built specifically for UK childcare settings. If you haven't set up your website yet, start with one of the PolicyAndPlay templates — they include pre-written page content, an Ofsted-ready structure, and are ready to customise in minutes. This section will still help you understand what to include and what to avoid.
🔧 Choosing Your Website Platform
Before building, choose the platform that suits your technical confidence and budget. Here are the main options for childcare settings:
Recommended
PolicyAndPlay Templates
Pre-built, childcare-specific HTML templates included in your plan. No coding required. Childminder-ready content already written. Fastest to launch. Customise and host via Netlify (free).
Popular Choice
Wix / Squarespace
Drag-and-drop website builders. Good for beginners. Monthly cost ~£10–£20. Easy to add pages and a blog. Less control over code but very user-friendly.
Best for Blogging
WordPress.com
Most powerful blogging platform. Free tier available. Highly customisable. Requires slightly more technical confidence. Excellent for long-term SEO and regular content publishing.
Avoid free website builders with their branding in the URL: A URL like yoursetting.wixsite.com/childminder looks unfinished and unprofessional. Always use your own domain name (e.g. www.sunshinechildminding.co.uk). A domain costs approximately £10–£15 per year from providers like 123-reg or Namecheap.
🌍 Getting Your Own Domain Name
Step 1
Choose and Register Your Domain
Your domain is your website address. Choose one that is:
Short and memorable (e.g. sunshinechildminding.co.uk)
Your setting name or your name plus "childminding" or "nursery"
A .co.uk domain (preferred by UK parents searching locally — builds trust)
Easy to spell and say aloud — parents hear your web address before they see it
Register at 123-reg.co.uk, namecheap.com, or ionos.co.uk. Cost: approximately £10–£15 per year for a .co.uk domain. Register for 2 years to save money and avoid forgetting to renew.
📄 Essential Pages Every Childcare Website Must Have
The pages marked as required are expected by parents — missing them raises red flags. The recommended pages significantly improve enquiry rates.
🏠 Home Page (Required)
Your setting name and area
One clear, strong headline ("Warm, professional childcare in Leeds")
Ages you accept and basic hours
Your Ofsted registration number and rating
A clear "Get in Touch" call to action
Professional photo of your space (not children without consent)
👤 About Me/Us (Required)
Your name and professional background
Your childcare qualifications and training
Your childminding philosophy and approach
Why you became a childminder
A warm, professional photo of yourself (not with children unless consented)
🌟 What We Offer (Required)
Ages you care for
Hours and session types
Daily routine overview
How you support EYFS learning
Meals and snacks policy
Outdoor play and activities
📋 Policies Overview (Required)
A brief summary of your key policies
Link to or list of available policies
Ofsted registration and inspection status
Safeguarding commitment statement
Data protection/GDPR notice
💰 Fees and Availability
Current fees (hourly/daily/weekly)
Registration and deposit information
Holiday and bank holiday policy
Government funding (30-hour entitlement) information
Current availability or waiting list status
🖼 Gallery
Photos of your setting environment
Seasonal displays and activity setups
Your outdoor space
Never children without specific written website consent
⭐ Testimonials
Written testimonials from parents (with permission)
First name and area only (never full names)
Keep recent and authentic
📞 Contact Page (Required)
Contact form or email address
Phone number (if you wish to share it)
Area you cover (not your full home address)
Response time expectation
GDPR Legal Requirement — Privacy Notice: Any website that collects data from visitors (even just a contact form) must have a Privacy Notice (also called a Privacy Policy). This is a legal requirement under UK GDPR. Your PolicyAndPlay GDPR Policy template includes the text you need for this. Link to it from your website footer. Failure to have a Privacy Notice on a data-collecting website can result in an ICO complaint.
🚫 What NOT to Include on Your Childcare Website
Your full home address: Your area (e.g. Headingley, Leeds) is enough. Full addresses are a safeguarding risk — you don't want unknown members of the public knowing exactly where you live and work. Share your address only with enquiring parents after initial vetting.
Photos of minded children without specific written website consent
Children's full names — even with consent, first names only is the safe standard
Specific children's routines or personal details — this is personal data
Current family information: never name which families currently use your setting
Negative comments about Ofsted, the local authority, or other childminders
Medical advice or diagnosis information — you can signpost to NHS resources but never offer medical guidance
Unverified statistics or claims (e.g. "The best childminder in Leeds" — this could be challenged)
Other people's copyrighted content — images, text, or resources that are not yours or are not licensed for your use
✍️ Setting Up Your Blog: Step-by-Step
A blog is one of the most powerful tools for building your online presence and attracting parents via Google search. A blog post that answers a parent's question can bring new visitors to your site for years after you write it.
Step 1
Add a Blog Section to Your Website
If you are using Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress, add a Blog page from your dashboard. If you are using a PolicyAndPlay HTML template, you can add new HTML pages linked from a "Blog" navigation item, or start with one of the blog-format templates in your library.
Name your blog something professional and welcoming: "News & Resources," "Learning Together," "From the Setting," or simply "Our Blog." Avoid generic titles like "Blog."
Step 2
Write Your First Three Posts Before Launching
An empty blog undermines credibility. Write at least 3 posts before making your blog public. Each post should be:
A minimum of 400–500 words (longer posts rank better on Google)
Focused on one specific topic or question a parent might search for
Well-structured with clear headings (H2, H3 tags)
Helpful, informative, and written in a warm, accessible tone
Proofread before publishing
Step 3
Structure Each Blog Post Correctly
Every post should follow this structure:
Title: Clear and specific — the question or topic in plain language (e.g. "What Does a Typical Day at Sunshine Childminding Look Like?")
Introduction: 2–3 sentences establishing what the post covers and who it's for
Body: Organised into clear sections with sub-headings. Use bullet points to make it scannable.
Conclusion: Summarise the key takeaways and end with a gentle call to action ("If you'd like to visit us, get in touch — we currently have spaces available.")
Categories/Tags: Tag each post with relevant categories (e.g. EYFS, outdoor play, new parents, toddlers)
Step 4
Set a Realistic Publishing Schedule
Consistency matters more than frequency. Choose a schedule you can maintain:
Ambitious: 1 post per week
Sustainable: 2 posts per month
Minimum: 1 post per month
Write posts in batches — choose a quiet Sunday morning once a month, write two or three posts, and schedule them to publish throughout the month. This is more efficient than writing one post at a time.
💡 Blog Content Ideas for Childcare Settings
You don't need to be a professional writer. You just need to be helpful. Here are 30 blog post ideas ready to use:
For Parents New to Childminding
What to expect from your child's first week with a childminder
How to help your child settle in with a new childminder
What is a Key Person and why does it matter?
The difference between a childminder, nursery, and pre-school — which is right for your family?
Questions to ask when choosing a childminder
What government childcare funding can you claim? (30-hour entitlement guide)
About EYFS and Learning
What is the EYFS? A plain-English guide for parents
The seven areas of learning explained simply
What is a Learning Journey and why does your childminder keep one?
How outdoor play supports your child's development
Why messy play is not just about fun — the science behind it
Heuristic play for babies: what it is and why we love it
Seasonal and Activity Ideas
10 autumn nature activities for under-5s
Indoor activities for rainy days that support EYFS learning
Christmas craft ideas that develop fine motor skills
Growing vegetables with young children: a spring project guide
Summer safety for childminders: sun, water, and outdoor play
Childcare Information and Tips
How to spot signs of developmental delay: a parent's guide
Speech and language development milestones from 0–5
Screen time recommendations for under-5s (NHS guidelines)
When should my child see a speech therapist?
How to support your child's transition to school
What is SEND and how do childminders support children with additional needs?
About Your Setting
A day in the life at [Your Setting Name]
Why I became a childminder: my story
Our approach to meals: healthy eating and allergy management
How we celebrate diversity and inclusion at our setting
What Ofsted looks for (and how we prepare)
Our favourite children's books and why we love them
🔍 SEO Basics: Getting Found on Google
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) means making your website findable when parents search on Google. You do not need to be technical to implement the basics.
🎯 Use Local Keywords
Include your town or area name throughout your website naturally. "Childminder in Headingley, Leeds" is what a local parent types. Make sure your area appears in your page titles, headings, and throughout your text.
📄 Write Descriptive Page Titles
Every page needs a unique title that includes your key phrase. "Home" is not a title. "Registered Childminder in Headingley, Leeds — Sunshine Childminding" is a title.
🖼 Name Your Images Descriptively
Before uploading photos, rename them. "IMG_4052.jpg" tells Google nothing. "outdoor-play-area-childminder-leeds.jpg" helps Google understand your page context.
📝 Write a Meta Description
This is the 2-sentence summary that appears under your link in Google results. Every page and blog post should have one. Include your area and your key service: "Registered Ofsted childminder in Headingley, Leeds. Professional childcare for children aged 0–5. Currently accepting enquiries."
🗺 Create a Google Business Profile
Register your setting at business.google.com (it's free). This creates a listing that appears in local Google searches and on Google Maps. Include your phone number, area, hours, and website. Ask satisfied parents to leave a Google review — these boost your local search position.
🔗 Get Listed in Directories
Free listings on childcare directories bring visitors and improve your Google ranking. List your setting on: Childcare.co.uk, Gov.uk Childcare Finder, your local authority's Family Information Service, and Pacey's member directory.
The one SEO rule that matters most: Write content that genuinely helps parents. Google is good at distinguishing helpful, well-written content from keyword-stuffed filler. Blog posts that answer real questions parents search for will bring you visitors consistently for years.
📸 Photography and GDPR on Your Website
The same GDPR rules apply to your website as to social media: Photographs of identifiable children on your website require specific written consent from their parent or guardian. "Identifiable" means that someone who knows the child could recognise them — a child's face, distinctive clothing, or a clearly recognisable body position can all be identifying.
Safe Approaches to Photography
Photograph your environment, not the children: a beautifully set up craft table, a nature display, your book corner, your garden. These perform brilliantly on websites and carry zero GDPR risk.
Hands, feet, and creative outcomes (paintings, constructions) can be photographed without consent concerns
If you photograph children with consent, never include their full name, school name, or any personal information in the caption or alt text
Use your own photos wherever possible — stock photos of children from photo libraries can look generic and detached from your setting
If a family withdraws consent, remove their child's images from your website promptly
Finding Free, Legally Safe Images
If you want supplementary images for your website, use copyright-free image libraries. Recommended sources:
Unsplash (unsplash.com) — high quality, free, no attribution required
Pexels (pexels.com) — free, varied, good early years selection
Pixabay (pixabay.com) — free, large library
Always check the licence on any image before using it. "Free to use" and "copyright free" are sometimes used loosely — look specifically for images under the CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) licence or that explicitly permit commercial use with no attribution required.
🔒 Legal Requirements for Your Website
UK law requires certain information and policies to be present on any business website. As a childcare provider, you must have:
Cookie Notice
If your website uses cookies (most website platforms do automatically), you must inform visitors and give them a choice. Most website builders (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress) include a cookie consent banner — ensure it is enabled.
Privacy Policy (GDPR)
Any website that collects personal data — including via a contact form — must have a Privacy Policy explaining what data you collect, why, how it is stored, and how visitors can request its deletion. Your PolicyAndPlay GDPR Policy template covers the key elements. Link to it from your website footer.
Business Information
If you operate as a sole trader or limited company, your website should include your trading name and an email address or contact method. You are not required to include your home address publicly.
Ofsted Registration Number
While not strictly a legal requirement to display on your website, displaying your Ofsted registration number is strongly recommended. It builds trust with parents and allows them to verify your registration status on the Ofsted website.
✅ Dos and Don'ts: Your Childcare Website and Blog
DO
Get your own domain name (not a free platform URL)
Include your Ofsted registration number prominently
Have a Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
Use your local area name throughout for local SEO
Create a Google Business Profile (free)
Write blog posts that answer real parent questions
Get written consent before posting photos of children
Keep your availability information up to date
Link your website to your Facebook Page and vice versa
Include a clear "Contact" or "Enquire" call to action on every page
List your setting on free childcare directories
DON'T
Publish your full home address publicly
Post photos of children without specific written website consent
Use copyrighted images without a licence
Let your website become outdated — "last updated 2022" looks neglected
Use a free platform URL (yourname.wixsite.com) as your main address
Copy content directly from other childminders' websites
Make unverifiable claims ("Best childminder in the county")
Neglect your blog — one post every 6 months does nothing for SEO
Forget to include a contact method — parents can't enquire if they can't reach you
Include personal information about minded children
Write blog posts for search engines rather than real parents
Ignore website security — keep your platform and plugins updated
🗓 Your Website Launch Checklist
Before making your website live, verify each of these:
Home page is complete with your setting name, area, Ofsted number, and a clear call to action
About page written and showing your qualifications and approach
Contact page includes email and/or phone number
Privacy Policy is present and linked from the footer
Cookie notice is enabled
No photos of children without written consent
All images are your own or from a copyright-free source
Website works on mobile (test on your phone)
All links work correctly (no broken pages)
You have a custom domain (not a free platform URL)
Google Business Profile created and linked to your website
At least one blog post published before launch
Setting listed on Childcare.co.uk and your local authority's childcare finder
You're ready to launch. Share your new website link with current parents, on your Facebook Page, in your email signature, and on any childcare directories you are listed on. A professional website is a long-term investment — the time you put in now will generate enquiries for years to come.
📚 Sources and Official References
This guide has been compiled from the following official UK Government, regulatory, and professional sources. All information was accurate at the time of publication.
Source
What It Covers
UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
Legal requirements for Privacy Notices, contact forms, and personal data on websites. ico.org.uk
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — Website and Online Services Guidance
Cookie notices, privacy policies, and lawful data collection online. ico.org.uk
ICO — Cookies and Similar Technologies Guidance
When a cookie notice is required; what it must contain. ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr
EYFS Statutory Framework 2024
Safeguarding requirements relevant to online presence and parent communication. gov.uk
Ofsted — Using Social Media: Guidance for Education Providers
Ofsted's expectations regarding professional online presence. ofsted.gov.uk
Google — Search Engine Optimisation Starter Guide
SEO fundamentals including meta descriptions, page titles, and structured content. developers.google.com/search/docs
PACEY — Digital Marketing and Online Presence Guidance for Childminders
Practical guidance on websites and digital tools for registered childminders. pacey.org.uk
Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay — Creative Commons Licence Information
Copyright-free image licensing terms. Referenced under CC0 and royalty-free use guidelines.
Disclaimer — Important: This guide is produced by PolicyAndPlay for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, regulatory, or professional advice. UK GDPR obligations and privacy law requirements are subject to legislative change — always verify current requirements with the ICO or an appropriately qualified data protection professional. SEO practices evolve and may change following updates to search engine algorithms. PolicyAndPlay accepts no liability for any loss, regulatory consequence, or commercial outcome arising from reliance on this guide. Where legal compliance is required (Privacy Policy, Cookie Notice, data collection), always seek independent qualified advice to ensure your website meets current legal obligations.