How to become a registered childminder

Have you ever thought about childminding?

Becoming a registered childminder gives you the chance of an incredibly rewarding and responsible career with all the benefits of home-based working. And tens of thousands of people are already running their own childminding businesses across England and Wales

For information on becoming a registered childminder, please contact Waltham Forest's Family Information Service on 020-8496-3000 or visit the National Childminding Association of England and Wales

Further information on becoming a childminder prospective childminder fact sheet (44KB Word file)

Download the requirements for the childcare register for childminders document ( 250KB Word file)

Wanting to open up your own childcare provision

Are you interested in opening a childcare provision?

We offer guidance and support to new and potential childcare providers in Waltham Forest.

We offer:

  • An initial information pack (160KB Word file)
  • Daycare briefing sessions (every 6 weeks)
  • Pre-registration visit
  • Funding information and guidance
  • Identifying other helpful organisation

To book a place at a briefing session, please contact the Family Information Service on the contact details below.

There are three Ofsted registers you are able to register your childcare setting under:

Early Years Register

You must register on the Early Years Register if you care for children from birth to the 31 August following their fifth birthday, unless you are not required to register your care; this is known as ‘exempt from registration’. The Childcare (Exemption from Registration) Order 2008 sets out those who are exempt from registration.

The 31 August following a child’s fifth birthday marks the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to the end of the stage: providers on the Early Years Register and schools must deliver it.

Compulsory Childcare Register

These include childcare providers who:

  • Provide care for children aged eight and over (such as childminders or care provided in out-of-school clubs, holiday clubs, playschemes, play-centres and open access play provision)
  • Offer activity-based care (such as sports, drama, language or arts clubs)
  • Provide care in the child’s own home (for example, nannies and au pairs,1 or home-based care for disabled children). Unless they look after the children of more than two families

Voluntary Childcare Register

You can choose to register if you want to provide care that does not fall into the categories set out above. This includes:

  • Home-based care in the home of the child (nannies)
  • Activity-based settings such as sports coaching or tuition
  • Short-term care such as crèche
  • Care that is only for children aged eight to under 18

Further information on opening a childcare provision prospective childcare provider fact sheet (44KB Word file)

Requirements for the childcare register childcare provider (282KB Word file)

For further information on inspections in Waltham Forest visit OFSTED

Contact us

Waltham Forest Family Information Service
PO Box 416
Silver Birch House
Uplands Business Park
Blackhorse Lane
Walthamstow, E17 5SD

Tel 020 8496 3000
Fax 020 8496 3599

Email wfcis@walthamforest.gov.uk