Friendly Childminders' Hub
Launching on Sunday 1st February 2026 at 10am!
Joining the Childminding Profession
Childminding is a wonderful and rewarding profession that offers autonomy, flexibility and a great LIFE work balance that can fit around you and your family! If you are interested in becoming a childminder but you aren't sure if it's the right decision for YOU, and you're looking for answers to your 101 questions, then here is a great place to start your journey! ​​​​
​​In the Hub, you will find the 'Making the Leap' Collection, which is dedicated to supporting you from the very beginning of your childminding journey - from trying to work out if it's a leap you want to make and if it's financially viable, all the way through to preparations for your first day! ​​​​​
There are specific spaces within this 'Making the Leap Collection' for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland because the registration process is different in each country. You can find more about this collection by having a nosey here. ​​​​​​
​In the meantime, here's some information to help you learn more about getting started in childminding where you are! Please scroll down and choose your country to find out more...​​​​​
Join the Profession
in England
In England, you can choose to register as a childminder through Ofsted or an agency.
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For Ofsted, they have provided a useful briefing (which can be viewed as a PowerPoint or a PDF document) that provides lots of information about the legalities, requirements and the application process to help you understand what you need to do:
​If you decide that you would like to register as a childminder through Ofsted, here's a link to the online application form:​​
​​Register as a Childminder (England)​​​​​
​​​​​​For agencies, you can find a list of them here so you can have a nosey at what each of them offers and decide if this route if right for you:​
​​Please note that some agencies are national, whilst others only work in specific areas that are local to their headquarters. If you decide that you you would like to register as a childminder an agency, you need to do this directly through them.
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It's also worth contacting your local authority's 'Early Years Team' as they maybe able to offer further support with the registration process, for example offer childminder network meetings or they may provide training.
To get in touch with your Early Years Team, call your local authority's main switchboard and ask to be connected or search their website for an emails address. Sadly, increasing responsibilities and dwindling budgets means that whilst councils are doing their best, they may not be able to offer extensive childminding support, but it's always worth checking!
Join the Profession
in Scotland
In Scotland, you can only register with the Care Inspectorate.
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They have created a document that will walk you through the process and here's a link to that...​​​​​​​
​​​Care Inspectorate's 'Registering and Running a Childminding Service: What You Need to Know'*​​​​​​​​​
​​When you're ready for it, here's a link to the online application form to gain a license to become a registered childminder in Scotland:​​​​​​​
Register as a Childminder (Scotland)​​​​​​​​​
​​​There is also the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA), which by its own admission is s third sector (charity) organisation working closely with the Scottish government and local authorities to provide support to its members. If you would like to learn more about the SCMA, here's a link: ​​​​​​​​​
Scottish Childminding Association​​​​​​​​​
​​​*This document was last updated in September 2024 and this website was finalised in January 2025. As it's a link to a direct document, it's worth double checking for a later one if you're viewing this at a later date and you can do this by Googling the name if it.​​​​​​
In Wales, you can only register with the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).​​​
Join the Profession
in Wales
There's a section on their website that provides more information about registering. Please note that it also covers day care and play services, so you will need to look specifically for what's relevant to childminders:​​​​
​​Information and Guidance to Help You Register a Childcare
and Play Service​​​​​​​
​​​​As stated on the CIW's website ('Before You Apply' section), they also ask you to contact your local Family Information Service to complete mandatory training that's organised by your local authority. Here's a link to help you locate the Family Information Service that covers your area:​​​​
​​​Find Your Local Family Information Service​​
​​​As stated on the CIW's website ('Before You Apply' section), they also ask you to register with PACEY in Wales. Here's a link to their website:​​
​​PACEY in Wales/ PACEY Cymru​​​​​​​
​​​​​When you're ready for it, here's a link to register with CIW so you can complete their online application form:​​​
Join the Profession
in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, you can only register with your Local Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) to become a home childcarer and you complete the registration process through them. Here's a link to help you find your local HSCT and apply:​​​​​
​Find your Local Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT)​​​​
​Here's a link to the Children's Order's guide that you are asked to download before you begin your registration.​​​​
​The Children Order: A Guide to Help You With Registration​​​​
