Friendly Childminders' Hub
Launching on Sunday 1st February 2026 at 10am!
An Inclusive Hub...
The Friendly Childminders' Hub is an inclusive, online community for all UK registered childminders, regardless of whether they are with;
​
-
Ofsted,
-
one of England's certified childminding agencies,
-
Care Inspectorate Wales,
-
Care Inspectorate (Scotland),
-
one of the five Northern Irish Health and Social Care Trusts.​​​​​​
T​​he Hub is entirely independent, impartial and is not affiliated with any of these organisations.​​​​​
How Will the Hub Benefit Childminders?
Childminders treasure the independence of running their own businesses, while also valuing access to reliable information, dedicated support, and genuine connection and that's what they can expect from the Friendly Childminders' Hub.​​​​​​​
Reliable Information
​
Navigating the world of childminding can be overwhelming at times but with the Hub, childminders will always have access to clear, trustworthy guidance. Everything shared within the Hub by its founder is carefully curated to help childminders stay informed and confident. No fluff, no confusion - just reliable information childminders can count on! ​​​​​​​​​
Dedicated Support
​
Whether someone is just starting out or growing their childminding business, the Hub is there for them every step of the way. Practical help can be found across the Hub's Collections, and if someone needs an answer that hasn't been added to the relevant space yet, they can just ask! Dedicated support with both work and home lives means childminders always have someone in their corner helping them to thrive. ​​​​​​​​​​
Genuine Connection
​
Childminding can feel isolating, but it doesn't have to. The Hub brings together a vibrant community of like-minded professionals who truly get it. They can share ideas, swap stories and build friendships in a space where connection is real and support is mutual. Childminders aren't just subscribing to a service, they're joining a family. ​​​​​​​
The Hub's Values
Supportive Connection - Creating a safe, welcoming space where childminders can share experiences, ask questions, and build lasting relationships.​​​​​
Trusted Knowledge Sharing - Committed to providing reliable, well-sourced information that childminders can trust. The founder carefully curates content from reputable sources to ensure accuracy, sincerity, and clarity - helping members stay informed without the noise of misinformation.​​​
​​​​Integrity & Trust - Every partnership and interaction is rooted in honesty, transparency, and mutual respect - ensuring members feel confident and valued.​​​​​​​
Transparency & Fair Value - Proudly free from gimmicks, hidden agendas, or pushy sales tactics. Everything is presented with honesty and clarity, ensuring childminders receive genuine value for money. The founder is committed to keeping the Hub affordable and accessible to all, so every member can benefit without barriers.​​​​​​​
Celebrating Independence - Championing independently owned businesses and childminders who bring creativity, passion, and purpose to their work.​​​
​​Uplifting Others - Actively exchanging ideas, advice, and encouragement to help one another grow personally and professionally.​​​​​​​
​Quality Over Quantity - Carefully curating collaborations and content to ensure the Hub remains focused on meaningful support - not commercial noise.​​​​​​​
Community - Led Growth - Listening to members, adapting to their needs, and evolving whilst keeping the childminding community at the heart of every decision.​​​
I'm Not 'Tech Savvy' and Worried the Hub Will Be too Complex
It's understandable that you may feel like this, but please be reassured that the Hub is simple to join and intuitive to use! Members can find lots of help in a dedicated Space called 'Tech Help' with 'just in case' guides! ​​​​
The Hub was built using a platform called Mighty Networks, which was specifically chosen because it's user friendly and straightforward to use! ​​
Baffling technical jargon isn't used on this website or in the Hub itself, as everything is explained simply without assumptions about a person's knowledge and most importantly without being patronising! No one wants or needs that in their lives, so you won't find it here!​​​​​
Click here to find out a bit more about the Tech Help that is available.
​
If you have a question, please feel free to get in touch. ​​​
How the Hub Came About...
The Friendly Childminders' Hub was founded by me, Sam Heaven, because childminders need the information, support and connection it offers. I know because I was a childminder.​
When I made the leap from primary school teacher to childminder – my heart belongs to early years - I soon realised how vulnerable we are as childminders. There was no union or 'staffroom' full of colleagues to bounce ideas off and seek reassurance from when I needed it.​​
I was relying on Facebook groups for answers to the 101 questions I had, and the responses weren’t always reliable or supportive. So, I set up my own Facebook group, called Friendly Childminders, and I soon realised that I wasn’t alone. There were thousands of other childminders, and those looking to join the profession, were also looking for a ‘safe space to ask the daft questions.’​
The Hub was inspired by, and named after, this Facebook group because I saw the limitations and precarious position of a group on social media, but also the sense of community and solidarity. I also spotted patterns where similar questions were being asked repeatedly, and I had a notes app full of 'stock' answers. ​
I thought it would be brilliant to have some sort of virtual reference library with a sense of community where childminders can pop in at any time to get reliable information!​
​I’ve carried this dream for a long time, and it’s been an absolute privilege and a joy to create this community for childminders. Childminders are a unique breed, who are sadly often seen as the ‘underdog’ of the childcare sector, and they deserve a dedicated space that provides support for all the ‘hats they wear’ in both their professional and personal lives.​​
I hope I've done our childminding community proud and childminders across the UK can seek out reliable information, dedicated support and genuine connection from the Friendly Childminders' Hub.
​
Sam x
Childminders 'Wear
All the Hats'!
Childminders 'wear many hats' whilst they manage both the childminding (safeguarding, settling, nurture, education, parent partnership, funding, environment, risk assessment, activities, transitions, inspections, legislation compliance etc), as well as the business administration (data protection, contracts, policies, insurance, expenses, ICO compliance, tax returns etc). ​​​​​​​​
Childminders also juggle the needs of their own families, which can be tricky at times, as they often work from settings they have created within their home! All the while this is happening, they are constantly on the look out for great ideas and fun resources that will support the children's development and great storage to organise them into - the resources that is, not the children! ​​​
The Hub is filled with many different areas, known as 'Collections', and each Collection addresses a particular 'hat' that a member may need to wear at any time, either professionally or personally, and it's inclusive of members from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Quite often, childminders have a stack of hats that they expertly balance on their heads', whilst also changing a nappy or getting mindees' into their wet weather gear (if you know, you know)! The Hub is set up to accommodate all of this; enabling members to jump from one Collection to another, finding support, obtaining information and making connections within a childminding community that understands.​​​​​​​
Well, I think that hat metaphor has well and truly done its job in explaining how fabulous the Hub is for childminders on both a professional and personal level!
Sam x
Can I Join the Hub?
As well as being open to childminders from across the UK, the Hub is also available to those who are seriously considering, or already in the process of, making the leap to childminding. ​​
If this is where you are right now, you will probably have 101 questions and may feel a bit overwhelmed! That's understandable and you are not alone - help is on hand in the Hub from people who get it! ​​​​
​​The Hub is also available to former or retired childminders who continue to be a big part of the childminding community, because they have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with others that is valued and appreciated!
You can find out more about who can join the Hub here! ​​
Imagine the Hub As...
The Hub is a vibrant, virtual space designed just for childminders that provides reliable information, dedicated support and genuine connection!
Imagine it as an interactive reference library, where every shelf is brimming with helpful resources, guidance, and shared wisdom.
The librarian (the founder) curates a growing collection, and every childminder who joins is invited to contribute their own insights and experiences.​
Settle into a comfy corner - childminders are welcome to stay as long as they like. This is a place for connection, conversation, and storytelling. Whether they're seeking advice, sharing their journey, or simply enjoying the company of others who truly understand, the Hub is a supportive community for childminders built on kindness, empathy, and shared purpose.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​