Friendly Childminders' Hub
Launching on Sunday 1st February 2026 at 10am!
Finding a Childminder
Each country in the United Kingdom has their own processes for registering childminders (you can find more about that here) and they also have their own processes for parents to find the right childminder for their family.​​​​​​​
Click on your country for ways and ideas to find a childminder in your area:​​​​​​​
Finding a Childminder
in England
In England, childminders can choose to register directly with Ofsted or with a childminding agency, which review and authorise members and in turn are inspected by Ofsted.
You may find these ideas useful for finding a registered childminder in your local area.​​​
-
​Enter your postcode in this gov.uk's website and you should be taken directly through to the childcare section of your local authority's website. They each have a directory of local childcare providers, often with contact details, so you can reach out to those you think maybe able to meet your childcare needs and could be a good fit for your family.​​​​
​​Find a registered childminder - gov.uk​​​​
-
​​Contact a a childminding agency that covers your area (some operate nationally whilst others operate locally to their headquarters) and they should be able to help you find a childminder from within their agency. Here is a link to a website that lists the current operational agencies:​​​​
​​​Childminder agencies: list of agencies - GOV.UK​​​
-
​There are childminder support organisations who do offer a 'childminder finder' feature on their websites that you can look up.​​​​
-
​On social media, notably Facebook, there maybe a 'Find a Childminder' group that is local to you, or an online community group for your area, where parents and childminders can connect. This seems to be a popular way of finding a childminder but caution needs to be taken as these groups operate outside 'official channels'. ​​​​
-
​​​If your child is at school, contact them and ask for recommendations. Many childminders offer out of school care (wrap around care) and tend to be associated with one or two schools in particular, meaning they often get to know staff and other parents through the regular drop offs and pick ups.​​​​​​​​
-
​​​​​Community notice boards - childminders may advertise using posters or flyers in their area, for example at the local library or Post Office.​
-
​​​Word of mouth through friends and family - this is a great way to find childcare because you are receiving recommendations from people you know and trust and on the flipside, they can also recommend you to the childminder! ​
Finding a Childminder
in Scotland
In Scotland, childminders can only register with the Care Inspectorate.
​
You may find these ideas useful for finding a registered childminder in your local area.
​
-
The Care Inspectorate has a 'childminder finder' feature on their website that you can access here:​​​​​​​​
​ Find a Care Service with the Care Inspectorate​​​​​​​​​​
-
The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) is a third sector (charity) organisation that by its own admission works closely with the Scottish government and local authorities to provide support to its childminder members. The SCMA also offers a 'childminder finder' service based on locality, so here's a link to that: ​​​​​​​​
-
​​​On social media, notably Facebook, there maybe a 'Find a Childminder' group that is local to you, or an online community group for your area, where parents and childminders can connect. This seems to be a popular way of finding a childminder but caution needs to be taken as these groups operate outside 'official channels'. ​​​​​​​​​​
-
If your child is at school, contact them and ask for recommendations. Many childminders offer out of school care (wrap around care) and tend to be associated with one or two schools in particular, meaning they often get to know staff and other parents through the regular drop offs and pick ups.​​​​​​​​​
-
​Community notice boards - childminders may advertise using posters or flyers in their area, for example at the local library or Post Office.
​
-
Word of mouth through friends and family - this is a great way to find childcare because you are receiving recommendations from people you know and trust and on the flipside, they can also recommend you to the childminder! ​​​​​​​
Finding a Childminder
in Wales
In Wales, childminders can only register with the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
​
You may find these ideas useful for finding a registered childminder in your local area.​​​​​
-
​​​Enter your postcode in this gov.uk's website and you should be taken directly through to the childcare section of your local authority's website. They each have a directory of local childcare providers, often with contact details, so you can reach out to those you think maybe able to meet your childcare needs and could be a good fit for your family.​​
Find a registered childminder - gov.uk​​​​​
-
​​​​On social media, notably Facebook, there maybe a 'Find a Childminder' group that is local to you, or an online community group for your area, where parents and childminders can connect. This seems to be a popular way of finding a childminder but caution needs to be taken as these groups operate outside 'official channels'. ​​​​
-
​​​​If your child is at school, contact them and ask for recommendations. Many childminders offer out of school care (wrap around care) and tend to be associated with one or two schools in particular, meaning they often get to know staff and other parents through the regular drop offs and pick ups.​​
-
Community notice boards - childminders may advertise using posters or flyers in their area, for example at the local library or Post Office.​​
-
Word of mouth through friends and family - this is a great way to find childcare because you are receiving recommendations from people you know and trust and on the flipside, they can also recommend you to the childminder!
Finding a Childminder in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, childminders can only register with their Local Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) to become a home childcarer.
​
-
Family Support Northern Ireland provide a childminder finder feature on their website:​​​​​​​
​Family Support 'Childminder Finder' ​​​​​​​​
-
​​​Here's a link to useful information about finding and using a childminder:​​​​​​
-
Contact Your Local Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) to get a list of registered childminders in your area. Here's a link to help you find your HSCT:​​​​​​​
-
On social media, notably Facebook, there maybe a 'Find a Childminder' group that is local to you, or an online community group for your area, where parents and childminders can connect. This seems to be a popular way of finding a childminder but caution needs to be taken as these groups operate outside 'official channels'. ​​​​​​​​​
-
​If your child is at school, contact them and ask for recommendations. Many childminders offer out of school care (wrap around care) and tend to be associated with one or two schools in particular, meaning they often get to know staff and other parents through the regular drop offs and pick ups.​​​​​​​​
-
Community notice boards - childminders may advertise using posters or flyers in their area, for example at the local library or Post Office.​​​​​​​​
-
Word of mouth through friends and family - this is a great way to find childcare because you are receiving recommendations from people you know and trust and on the flipside, they can also recommend you to the childminder! ​​​​​​
