How to become a Hartlepool Childcare Minder
How to become a Hartlepool Childminder, everything you need to know!
First Steps: Speak to Hartlepool Borough Council Early Years Team
- Eligibility
- You will need to register with Ofsted or a Childminder Agency.
- To register with Ofsted click here
- You must complete a health declaration form which can be obtained from your G.P. There may be a charge for this.
- You must undertake an Enhanced DBS Check. People living in your household or frequent visitors aged 16 years and above must undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
- You must be eligible to work in the UK and speak English.
Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage for Childminders
Your Premises
- Your premises needs to be safe secure and suitable for purpose.
You will need
- Robust risk assessments of your premises, and activities.
- Fire equipment and evacuation processes.
- Safe sleeping arrangements.
- A COSH checklist in place.
- Safety catches on cupboard doors. This applies to cupboards storing bleach, medication and hazardous substance
- Safety checks on resources and equipment.
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Click here for the full Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage
for Childminders
- The Learning and Development Requirements
- Assessment
Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements
Funded Education and Childcare for 2 Year Olds
- Check with your landlord/Mortgage provider that you are allowed to run a business from your home
- You must register as a sole trader by registering for Self-Assessment
- Register with HMRC here https://www.gov.uk/become-sole-trader//register-sole-trader
Register with Information Commissioner Officer
- All organisations who process personal data in the UK must register with the Information Commissioner Officer. There is a fee for registration
- Click this link to register https://ico.org.uk/
Recording keeping
- You must keep accurate financial records; contracts with parents; children’s personal details
Car Insurance
- If you are using your car for business purposes, you must have business car insurance.
Training
- Paediatric 1stAid – must be completed every 3 years and required for enrolment. There are local providers offering the face- to – face sessions at competitive rates.
- Safeguarding training – this can be provided as part of a package that some childminder trainers offer. Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership offer a range of safeguarding courses that are compliant and free to Hartlepool Childminders. National Society Prevention of Cruelty to Children also offers free introductory courses.
- Food Hygiene – although not currently an essential requirement, there is an expectation that you meet food hygiene standards that are addressed within an online course, usually in the region of £25-£40
- Early Years Foundation Stage – it is essential that you are aware of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and are fully compliant. Hartlepool Borough Council offer a new to Early Years Foundation Stage course however many training providers offer this as part of their Childminder training package
- The Learning and Development Requirements
- Assessment
Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements
- "I have been a childminder for 14 years. I became a childminder so I could share the important years with my own children while earning an income... I am valued by the children and their families. I would wholeheartedly recommend childminding as career choice."
Thinking of becoming a Childminder? Being a Childminder is extremely fulfilling and works around you, but don’t just take our word for it, click below to read real testimonials from current Hartlepool Childminders.
Support with your application
Our Early Years Childcare Team are here to assist you. If you have any further questions about any of the childcare schemes or if you need help with your application please don’t hesitate to contact our childcare team using the email or phone number below.
Email us
EarlyYearsChildCare@hartlepool.gov.uk
Call our Early Years Childcare Team
(01429) 523523
Register with us
Fill out the form below for updates on our in person and virtual classes and other types of support relevant to you! Please download and read the Consent Form before applying.
Register with us
Fill out the form below for updates on our in person and virtual classes and other types of support relevant to you! Please download and read the Consent Form before applying.
