Parents who are looking to return to work, education or simply free up some time will inevitably need to consider childcare. But, with such a vast range of options available, it can be difficult to decide upon the right childcare solution for your needs.
One of the questions we are often asked at Yoopies is: ‘what is a childminder?’
Below we have outlined the fundamental differences between a childminder and other forms of childcare, pinpointed the benefits of using a childminder, and provided guidance on how to find the best childcare option for you and your family.
What is a childminder?
Childminders are generally self-employed, professional childcare providers that look after children for more than 2 hours a day in their home and are registered with Ofsted. Childminders are limited to the number of children they can care for at one time, dependent on the size of their home and whether they have an assistant, and will set their own hours and rates. Typically childminders are paid on a weekly or monthly basis.
Do I need an Ofsted Registered Childminder?
Yes, all childminders in England must be registered with Ofsted. In Wales, childminders are registered with CSSIW and in Scotland with the Care Inspectorate. Without this registration, the childminder can be fined for illegally taking care of children.
Ofsted and the equivalent bodies in Scotland and Wales regulate and inspect those who care for children under the age of 8 in order to ensure that all who are providing care services in England and Wales do so to a high standard. Registered childminders will regularly undergo inspections, including a pre-registration visit, to ensure their home is appropriate and that they are delivering childcare to the highest possible level.
Want to know more? To learn more about Ofsted and what they do, check out our guide, What is Ofsted?
What qualifications and training does a childminder have?
As well as inspections, childminders should also have the relevant qualifications in childcare and pediatric first aid, as well as having public liability insurance, and a DBS check.
Childminders must adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) when looking after children under 5 years of age. The EYFS is the teaching curriculum guidelines that ensure children are learning essential skills. Your childminder will usually provide a copy of the activities and development of your child with this framework in mind.
Many childminders will have further training in health and safety as well and basic cooking.
What are the benefits of a childminder?
Focused attention on your child(ren):
Essentially, by choosing a childminder, you’ll be able to provide your children with a personalised, family-centric approach to childcare that is difficult to find in nurseries. With a childminder, your children will be able to engage in real-life experiences, such as visiting the park, taking a walk down to the local shops and even engaging with activities around the home, such as cooking, which are all essential in providing your child with opportunities for learning and language development.
Flexibility and Price:
Childminders are generally more flexible and cheaper than nurseries and provide hours outside the typical 9-5. Not to mention, the smaller-scale and homely environment is perfect for parents with disabled children as individual needs can be catered for on a one-on-one basis.
Access to Government-aid:
In addition to this, most childminders offer Government-led childcare schemes, such as Tax-Free Childcare and the 15 and 30-Hour Free-Childcare schemes. Parents who are eligible for these schemes will benefit from discounted childcare. You can find out more information about how to apply for the 15 and 30 hours scheme here.
What are the responsibilities of a childminder?
Childminders will look after your children whilst you are at work, however this is not simply babysitting. The role of the childminder is to create and foster an environment in which your child will learn and develop essential skills. Most will provide activities, trips and early years lessons to help your child learn about themselves and the world around them. Responsibilities include:
- Providing a learning environment that adheres to the EYFS framework
- Providing a safe and healthy environment in compliance with Government standard ‘Safer Food, Better Business’ guidelines. This includes meals, snacks, drinks (apart from mains tap water), reheated food provided by a parent/carer, cut up, and prepared food. The meals and snacks should be nutritious, and childminders will normally provide a menu outlining the food your child will have. Childminders must also regularly risk assess their role and provide safety policies to parents.
- Administrative tasks. The childminder is self-employed and therefore in charge of declaring their own taxes, managing their Ofsted registration, training, and Government Financial Aid Schemes (15/30 hours free childcare)
- Taking care of your child in a safe and enjoyable environment that supports their development. A childminder should be regularly encouraging play and managing engaging activities for your child.
What’s the difference between a childminder and a nanny?
The biggest difference between a childminder and other forms of childcare, such as a nanny, is that childminders are based at their own home.
Nannies, by contrast, can live in or work full-time, whilst others may work part-time (two days per week, for example). Unlike a childminder, nannies do not have to be Ofsted registered, although they may still be highly qualified and will often have considerable work experience. Nannies who do choose to be Ofsted registered, however, can then be eligible for discounted childcare payments through various Government schemes – such as Tax-Free Childcare. Like childminders, in terms of payment, nannies will typically earn a weekly or monthly salary. However, their taxes are deducted from their pay by the family they work for, whereas a childminder will declare his/her own taxes.
Much like a childminder, the nanny will be responsible for planning activities in order to ensure your child’s development and well-being and preparing meals. However, as nannies work at the family home, they will also often be tasked with household chores and transporting the children to and from activities.
How to find a childminder or nanny:
To find a childminder that suits your needs, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions:
- What kind of person do I want to care for my children?
- Do I need them to have qualifications?
- How much experience do I want them to have?
You should also consider your own personal approach to parenting and whether you would like to hire someone that follows a similar line of action. To find both nannies and childminders, you can use our online service at Yoopies – a platform that is host to a huge number of childcarers across the UK. Here, you can create a personalised advertisement and find a childminder or nanny in your local area by entering your postcode and browsing through the profiles of childminders or nannies near you. You’ll then be able to reach out to local childminders and respond to childminders that reply to your advert.
How long does it take to find a childminder?
There are a handful of lucky parents that have been able to find and select the perfect childminder or nanny almost instantly. For others, however, it could take up to a few months. It is important that you allow time for receiving applicants, drawing up a shortlist, holding interviews, and then the eventual selection process. It is also important to allow enough time for your child to become well acquainted with their new childminder or nanny.
See your childminder or nanny in action
Before deciding on a childminder or nanny, it’s important that you take the time to assess their work. For childminders, we suggest that you visit two or three in or order to get a feel for the atmosphere. You could ask the childminder to show you around their home, including the bathroom and the places where your children will be eating, sleeping and playing. Take a look at the toys and equipment to ensure that everything is clean and safe. You could even bring your children along with you to see how they interact with the group.
For nannies, it’s a good idea to host a trial session. During the session, you’ll be able to observe how the nanny interacts with your children. It’s the perfect time to review their style and approach to childcare. It’s also a great opportunity for you to see how your children react to the chosen nanny. This will assure you that you’ve made the correct decision and enable you to hire the right nanny for the job that perfectly fits in with your family life.
Whether you choose a nanny or childminder for your childcare needs, you can be sure to find the perfect person for the job by using our online service at Yoopies. Simply enter your postcode and browse through hundreds of nannies and childminders in your area.