Become a childcare provider
About becoming a childcare provider
If you enjoy spending time with young children and you’re passionate about helping them grow and learn then you could have what it takes to work in childcare.
In the UK, a drive is under way to increase the number of men working with the youngest children in the education system. It is important for our children to see men in care giving roles.
In Derby city, we are particularly short of childminders due to our ever increasing population and staff nearing retirement age. Childminding is a flexible career that can fit around a modern lifestyle.
How we can help
We can provide you with guidance on how to become a childminder or how to set up a childcare setting like a nursery, playgroup or before and after school club. We will guide you through the Ofsted registration process and help you set up and develop your business.
We provide 1-2-1 support throughout the whole process. Becoming a new childcare provider is a useful step-by-step guide to setting up in business.
To find out more and have your questions answered, please call 01332 640758 or email fis@derby.gov.uk.
Support to become a self-employed childminder
Princes Trust
The Princes Trust work with people aged between 18 and 30 years old and offer business support and advice. If you are interested in finding out more, contact Freephone 0800 842 84.
Childminders and childminders without domestic premises
A 'childminder without domestic premises' is a childminder who works solely from somewhere other than a home, like a community or village hall. Childminders without domestic premises cannot work from their or anyone else's home at any time under this type of registration. If you want to spend all of your time operating from non-domestic premises, you must register as a childminder without domestic premises or provider of childcare on non-domestic premises depending on the total number of people providing care. The government has a pre-registration briefing providing guidance to childminders and childminders without domestic premises.
Types of childcare
- Childminders with domestic premises – who care for children from birth onwards, looking after them in their own home and offer an all year round service
- Childminders without domestic premises – who care for children from birth onwards, looking after them entirely from non-domestic premises
- Crèches – which usually care for children from birth to five years and are generally provided for parents attending courses or sports activities
- Day nurseries – which usually care for children from birth to five years between 8am and 6pm each weekday and are open all year round. Some provide care before and after school and in the school holidays
- Home carers/nannies – who come to the child's home and are employed by the family
- Pre-school playgroups – which mainly care for children aged two to five years old. Some pre-school playgroups offer part-time places with either morning or afternoon sessions, and other offer longer sessions such as 9am to 3pm. Pre-schools playgroups only run during term time.
- Out of school care – such as before-school and after-school clubs and school holiday schemes.
Testimonials from childcare providers
A short look at what registered childminding is all about.
See childminder Mike in a care giving role.
A day in the life of Erin, who recently completed a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Childcare.
Department for Education guidance
The Department for Education has released a series of updates and new publications relating to early years: