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Childminders provide care for babies, toddlers and school age children in the childminders own home. Childminding is a career in line with other Childcare professionals, working to high standards of care, working in partnership with parents ensuring the service is caring, consistent and good quality.

Childminders provide care in a domestic setting. Activities and daily routine vary from one childminder to another. Some childminders can provide all day care from early in the morning and some may work until late in the evenings or even weekends. A childminder can choose what hours s/he may want to work and may choose what ages she/he wants to work with i.e. under fives only or after school children.

Childminders are self-employed people who run their own business. They charge per child, with full time rates ranging from approx. £1.50 to £2.50 an hour.

Childminders use contracts which are agreed between themselves and the parents. Some childminders have registered assistants, or work with another childminder.

If a childminder looks after children under eight years, for more than two hours per day, for reward, s/he must register with Kirklees Early Years Service (unless s/he is closely related to the children s/he cares for) and comply with the requirements of the Children Act 1989. These include certain standards regarding premises, equipment, safety. etc.

How do I register?

By contacting Kirklees Early Years Service at Britannia Mills, Colne Road, Huddersfield, HD1 3ER, telephone 01484 223041.

You will be invited to attend an Information Evening.

Training

As part of the process of registration you will be invited on the ICP (Introduction to Childminding Practice) course. There are also opportunities to attend the DCP (Developing Childminding Practice). Both these course are devised by the NCMA (The National Childminding Association.) The DCP is a nationally recognised qualification for Childminders.