Friendly Childminders' Hub
Launching on Sunday 1st February 2026 at 10am!
Welcome to the Parents' Area
​​Hello!
The Friendly Childminders' Hub is a subscription service specifically created for childminders, to support them with the day to day running of their businesses, so they can spend more of their time nurturing and educating your children. ​​​​​​​​​​​
Whilst the Hub itself is not open to parents, this website includes a wealth of information to help you understand and navigate the world of childcare across the United Kingdom, notably the childminding profession!​​​​​​​​​​​
As a parent who relied on professional childcare during my teaching days, I understand first hand what it feels like when trying to do the best thing for your family! Choosing someone to trust and care for the person (or people) you love most in the world is a really difficult decision to make, and one that needs careful consideration and research.​​​​​​​​​
​​There seems to be a common misconception that childminders are glorified babysitters, and they are often overlooked when parents are looking for childcare! I am ashamed to admit that I also shared this view and I only considered childminders because my husband and I were looking for alternatives to a nursery! We weren't keen on the local nurseries where we were living at the time, as they didn't feel nurturing, there was a lack of flexibility and a focus on fees! ​​​​​​​​​​​
​We did our research, trusted our instincts and found the most wonderful childminder who cared for and educated our son like he was her own and we are still friends now! When we relocated back home, we didn't hesitate to choose a childminder again!​​​​​​​​​
Our son went to the loveliest mother daughter duo who had provided wrap around care for my younger sister years previously. I had been a teenager during that time, so had not appreciated what they did as carers and educators. They welcomed us into their home and we've never left their family, even though our son moved onto school several years ago! Our son flourished in the care of both his childminders and most importantly, he was so happy with them! As busy parents trying to balance everything, our child's happiness is always our top priority!​​​​​​​​​​
​​​So, through experience, I soon realised just just how amazing childminding professionals are! After my teaching days (in my attempt to find a better work life balance), I made the leap to become a childminder myself and started working tirelessly to champion them, before landing here, to create the Hub! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​If you can't find the answer you're looking for on this website, don't hesitate to get in touch. But please note the Hub does not offer a 'childminder finder' service and I will not provide recommendations for individual childminders. ​​​​​​​​​​
​It was really important to include a 'Parent's Area' to explain more about the role of a childminding professional, as well as providing help with finding a childminder who fits with your family, as much as you fit with theirs! ​​​​​​​​
I really hope this website serves you well in your childcare quest! ​​
​​
Sam x
​​
Founder and creator of the Friendly Childminders' Hub ​​​​​​​​​​
Where to Start?
As a parent, it can feel overwhelming when you're looking for the right person to take care of your precious child! Always trust your instincts when meeting and choosing childcare providers!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Here's a childminder trade secret - childminders also feel apprehensive about taking on new families! They are inviting strangers into their homes and lives, and it's just as important to them that you are a good fit for their family, as they are for you! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
It's about building a solid partnership of mutual understanding and trust to ensure your child is settled and happy, that the childminder respects your approach to parenting, and you respect their policies and procedures. For example, you follow their business hours and don't knock on their door before their setting is open or collect your child late! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​Each childminder is unique and has built their business around the needs of their own families. For example, they may offer wrap around care for the school their own children attend! Before you can find a childminder whose values and policies align with yours, it's important to know what your family needs from childcare.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​Below are a series of practical questions that will help you pull out the answers you need, which is a great starting point for choosing the best childcare provider for your child! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
These questions don't address the gut feeling and rapport that you will feel with the right person that you can trust with your child, but they will help you understand your family's needs, so you can match them with a childcare provider in the first instance!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​These questions are also available here, as a PDF document, that you can download and print at home.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
-
Which days do you need care for?
-
Do you need set days each week, or will they change according to a shift pattern?
-
Do you need care at the weekend?*
-
How many hours care do you need each day?
-
Do you need care during unsociable hours?*
-
Do you need overnight care?
-
Do need care during the 'school term'?
-
Do you need care all year round?
-
Would you like the setting to provide food and snacks for your child?
-
Would you like to provide your child with a packed lunch?
-
Does your child have any allergies that need to be accommodated?
-
Does your child have any special educational or medical need that requires more specialist care?
-
Is it more convenient for your child to attend a setting near to home, or your place of work (if applicable)?
-
How will you drop off and collect your child, for example, car, public transport, on foot, or you may need a drop off and pick up service?
-
What's your budget?
-
Are you eligible for tax free childcare?
-
Is your child eligible for a funded place (if available in your country)?
-
Do you want your child to have lots of trips out both in the local community and further afield?
-
Do you want your child to mostly remain in the setting with access to garden/green space?
-
Do you want your child to attend a 'forest school' type setting?
-
How long do you want your child to attend the setting for?
- Until they start ‘preschool’?
- Until they start in Reception?
- Until they start their home education journey?
-
Will you need wrap around care when they reach school age (if applicable)?
-
Will you need care alongside their home education (if applicable)?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​* If you need unsociable hours or weekend care, there are childminders who offer this too, but there may be an extra cost for these extended hours. If you find a great childminder that you really like, but they don't offer the hours and times you need, then it's ok to ask if they would consider taking on your child. Please don't take it personally if they say no; it just may not may not be possible for them to extend their days!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Once you've answered those questions and determined your family's childcare needs, you will undoubtedly have many more questions spinning around your head. For example, how do you know if someone is a legitimate childminder? Which is the best type of childcare for my child? What does the 'early years' mean? How do I actually find a great childminder? If you keep scrolling down this page, you'll find the answers! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​There's also a great article on the BBC's Tiny Happy People that explains more about choosing childcare and you'll find that here.
​
​​​​​​If your question isn't answered here, don't hesitate to get in touch! But please note the Hub does not offer a 'childminder finder' service and recommendations for individual childminders will not be provided.​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
How Do I Tell if They Are a Legitimate Childminder?
​Whether you are located in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, those who offer professional childcare services for more than two hours a day must be fully registered, fully trained and insured in order to work legally! ​​​​​​​​​​​​
They have a paper trail and documents they can show you to prove their identity, for example a (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. Anyone over the age of sixteen who lives in the same house as the childminder must also have one too. To find out more about the DBS, please have a look here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​Sadly, there are people offering unregistered childcare, who claim to be childminders but they are most certainly not! Childminders are professionals, not daytime babysitters! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
There are things to look out for that will help you identify someone who is not a legitimate professional:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
-
​ if their fees are too low, it's not always a good thing (childminders' fees do vary depending upon location)
-
they may ask for cash payments
-
they do not offer tax free childcare or funded hours (whilst some childminders choose not to offer these services, 'babysitters' cannot offer them as they are not registered
-
they seem to have too many children (childminders have strict ratios to stick to)
-
they make excuses about their absent paperwork (for example an Ofsted Early Years number, safeguarding or paediatric first aid certificate)
-
they don't share your child's day/progress/curriculum with you
-
they don't offer a contract
-
they don't ask you for personal information about your child and family, for example emergency contacts etc
-
they don't keep accident/incident/medication records ​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​The best advice is to do your research and trust your instincts! ​​​​​​​​​​​​
​To learn more about the process of becoming a childminder, so you can get some peace of mind and understand the legalities and level of professionalism involved, please click on your country. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
What Type of
Childcare Do I Need?
As the accompanying website for the Friendly Childminders' Hub, you are obviously going to find a bias towards childminders, here, and there's even a whole section entitled;​​​​​​
'100 Reasons to Choose a Childminder'​​​​​​
For early years care, you have the options of a choosing a childminder, nanny or nursery setting for your child! Click on the name of each to learn more to help you decide which childcare providers may be best suited to your family's needs. ​​​​​​
.png)
What is Meant By
the 'Early Years'?
These are the first few years of your child's life, from birth until the end of their Reception year in England. This period of a person's life is crucial for physical growth, brain development, language skills, and social emotional learning. ​​​​​​
It's when we learn to walk, talk and make sense of the world around us at an astonishing pace. Eye contact and communication is paramount during the early years because children learn by copying the words and actions of those around them. ​​​​​​​​​​
​​These years are incredibly important and children's trusted grown ups - their parents, childminders, family members are instrumental in supporting their growth during this time! The learning and development that takes place during this time that sets a child up for their whole life, and it's why it's know as the 'early years foundation stage'.​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​Each country's government within the United Kingdom has their own version of an early years statutory framework that childminders and other early years educators must follow. They also have non statutory curriculum guidance, which childminders and other early years educators can use if they choose too, and their doing so is recommended.​​​​​​​​​​​
Scroll down and click on your country's name to learn more about their statutory frameworks and curriculum guides, so you can see for yourself just how much work childminders and other early years educators put in to ensure every child gets the best start possible! ​​​​​​
Considerations
when Choosing
a Childminder...
Childminders are a rare breed, and regardless of where you are based in the UK, you will never find two childminders (or their settings) who are exactly the same. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​
If you've not seen it already, have a look at this section, 'Where to Start', which has useful questions to help you decide what you need from childcare, so you can match your family's needs to what a childcare provider offers! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
It's important to remember that not only is a childminder welcoming you into their setting, they are also welcoming you into their home and family. So, when you are deciding if a they will be a good fit for your family, the childminder is also deciding if you are a good fit for theirs! ​​​​​​​​​​​​
This is a decision they will always make sincerely and without discrimination or prejudice. Unlike nurseries, where staff can change and children move rooms, when you choose a childminder, you are choosing that individual person to love, nurture and educate your child. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​As many childminders work from their houses, the lines between home and work can often be blurred, making it difficult for you to know where the boundaries are. If you aren't sure, then simply ask about things like opening times, and check if it's ok to message of an evening or during the weekend. Having respect for those boundaries will go a long way towards building and cementing a great parent/childminder partnership. ​​​​​​​​​​​​
​Friendly word of advice, if your childminder tells you they open at 8am, it's not acceptable to knock on any earlier because that's an intrusion on their personal time. The same goes for home time too; if your childminder tells you they close at 6pm, it's not acceptable to arrive at that time to collect your child. You need to be there around five to ten minutes before so your childminder can get your child ready and tell you about their day, before they close at 6pm.​​​​​​​​​​​​
Finding a Childminder
Each country in the United Kingdom has their own regulatory body and processes for registering childminders (you can find more about that here).
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:​​​​​​
Childcare Fees
Childcare fees vary across the United Kingdom, so don't be surprised if your friends in another county pay a different rate to you. These differences often reflect local house prices and general living costs - though this is based on observation by the Hub's founder rather than official data.​​​​​​​​
What Affects Your Childcare Fees?
Childcare providers may charge based on:
-
Funded hours your child receives (if your family qualifies for government funding)
-
Additional hours beyond the funded ones, which you pay for privately
-
Consumable fees, which help cover extras like snacks, materials, and activities not included in the government’s funding rate
-
Notice period - if for some reason you need to end your contract, fees for a set period (usually 4 weeks) are payable
-
Late fees - if fees are not paid by the date specified, you are likely to be charged extra to cover the financial difficulties that the delayed payment may cause​​​​​​​​
What to Expect from Your Childminder
Every childcare setting operates a little differently, but they should all offer:
-
A clear contract outlining what you’re paying for and when
-
A fee policy that explains things like charges during holidays or if your child is off sick
-
Information on how and when payments are expected - most often monthly in advance, though this can vary​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​What are Consumable Fees?
For those families eligible for funding, the rates that childcare providers receive from the government only covers a child's hours of education, and does not include the everyday items that support the children's comfort, hygiene, activities and enrichment activities.
Therefore, childcare providers ask parents to pay this regular consumable fee to cover these additional costs. Parents can choose to pay all, part, or none of the fees and can instead provide the individual items themselves (for example wipe, craft materials, entrance fees, meals).​​​​​​​​​
​If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to ask your childminder. It’s important to feel confident and informed about the costs involved in your child’s care.​​​​​​
Funding Explained
for Parents
​If you are a childminder looking to learn more about offering funding to the families in your childminding community, please have a nosey here. ​​​
​'Funding' in this context refers to the government's allocation of money to support families with their childcare costs. There are different criteria for different funding schemes, but the predominant one is to support eligible working parents. Central government provides local authorities with the money, and then they organise and distribute it to the childcare providers.​​
Childcare providers have to claim the funding money termly through an online system, generally referred to as 'funding portals'. There are rules and cut off dates regarding the claiming for and distribution of funding, which may vary across local authorities.​​​
Funding is connected directly to the children who are using it. For example, if a childcare provider has 3 spaces available each day but only 2 children attending, they would they would only receive funding for the two children who attend. This is the same for all providers, regardless of whether they are a small childminding setting or a large preschool! ​​
Funded places can also be used in conjunction with the tax free childcare scheme, which could save you more money if you are eligible. You'll find more information about that scheme here, in the next section. ​​​
You'll find a wealth of information on funding and funded places on the 'Best Start in Life' website. This was previously known as Childcare Choices, but has been relaunched by the government. The website features a 'childcare support checker', so you can find the best money saving options for your child's care that are based on the country you live in and your family circumstances. Here's a link: ​​​
​BEST START IN LIFE​​
​​​Each country has their own funding processes and variations on the scheme, so it makes sense to deal with each one separately. Please scroll down and choose your country to find out more about funded childcare in your area:​​
Tax Free Childcare
Tax free childcare can help working families across the United Kingdom to cover the costs of childcare because for every £8 you put in the government adds £2!​​​​
The amount is capped at £500 for every three months and it is available to families with children up to the age of eleven. It will stay in place until 1st September after your child turns 11, so they can use it for the remainder of that academic year.​​​​
If your child is disabled, the cap is set at £1000 and your family can access it until they are sixteen. It will stay in place until 1st September after your child turns sixteen, so they can use it for the remainder of that academic year. ​​​​
Tax free childcare can be used in conjunction with funded places!
​
Here's more information about how it works on this section of the childcare choices website:​​​​
​BEST START IN LIFE - How it Works​​​​​​​
How Do I Apply?
​
In order to access this scheme, you need to check if you're eligible and open a government account. You do this through the childcare choices website. Here's a direct link to the eligibility section:​​​​
BEST START IN LIFE - Eligibility ​​​​​​​​​
​​​Once you've established if you can access it, you need to apply for an account. Here's a direct link to that section, which is on a different website:​​​​
BEST START IN LIFE - Applications​​​​​​​
​Where Can I Use the scheme?
​
You can use pay your childcare fees through this scheme with any provider that has signed up to offer it and it's open to childminders, nurseries, wrap around care (before and after school care) and nannies. But all providers must be registered with Ofsted, an agency or their equivalent regulatory body in order to do so. ​​​​​
​How Do I Find My Childcare Provider Through the Scheme?
​
You should be able to find a provider through your account using their name, town or postcode, but sometimes, this doesn't seem to work! If that's the case and they are Ofsted registered, you can look them up using their full early years number; include the initial EY, leave one space and then input their full postcode, but don't include a space between the two parts! ​​​​
What Else Do I Need to Know About It?
​
-
​You must reconfirm your eligibility every three months to continue accessing the scheme - you will receive an email reminder about this.
​
-
When you receive your childcare bill, log into your account and transfer 80% of the money, the scheme will add the remaining 20%. To work out 80%, divide the whole fee amount by 100 then multiply by 80. For example;​​​​
​Monthly fee is £600.
600/100 = 6
​
6 x 80 = £480
​
So you transfer £480 through the scheme and the government will make up the remaining £120! ​​​​​
-
Payments made through the scheme do take longer than a straightforward bank transfer, so please allow additional time to make sure payments clear before your childcare provider's deadline. It's really bad form to pay childcare fees late and it can have a significant negative impact on a childminder's business!
​​
-
You cannot use this scheme and workplace childcare vouchers at the same time.​​​​​​​​
-
​The scheme can only be used for childcare and not towards anything else like school meals or uniforms etc.
​​
-
If a situation arises and your childcare provider needs to give you a refund, this must be done through the tax free childcare account and cannot be made directly! ​
​
-
Your account for this scheme does not expire, but money may remain in there, so it's worth checking when you no longer need it. You can withdraw funds back to your bank account, minus any tax contributions made. ​​​​​
​​Here is the link to the frequently asked questions on the childcare choices website, in case you need further help with this:​​​​​​​
​​​BEST START IN LIFE - FAQs​​​​