Childminding is an industry largely made up of small businesses based at home. Most full-time childminding work is looking after babies and children under five. As a childminder you may also look after older children in the mornings before school, after school and during the school holidays. You will be responsible for providing a warm, caring environment along with stimulating play and learning activities for the children in your care.

As a childminder your duties will also include:

• Planning, preparing and serving meals to the children in their care, and for babies preparing bottles, feeding and changing nappies.
• Working closely with parents to share information about the well being of their children.

Working as a childminder will have a big impact on your home life; you may need to make changes to your home to ensure that it is safe and suitable. You will also need to work long hours possibly during weekends or overnight.

To be a childminder you should have:

• a love of children,
• an open-mind about the different ways of parenting,
• a caring nature, with lots of patience and a sense of humour,
• flexibility,
• good communication skills,
• to be open to scrutiny, both personally and in your home,
• an awareness of health, safety and hygiene,
• knowledge of child protection issues,
• the ability to keep written records and make simple financial calculations.

Surprisingly you do not need qualifications in order to work as a childminder. However In England Ofsted is responsible for registering and inspecting childminders. To become a registered childminder you should take the following steps:

• contact Childcarelink for details of your Local Authorities Children’s Information Service.
• The Local Authorities Children’s Information Service will then send you information about childminding, invite you to attend a childminding pre-registration briefing session, and provide you with an application pack.
• Complete and send your application to Ofsted.
• You will need to have a home inspection and personal interview to make sure your home meets the required health and safety standards, and that you are a suitable person to care for children.
• You will then need to attend a pre-registration training course, including first aid (arranged by your local authority or Children’s Information Service).
• Checks will also be made regarding health and criminal record, of you and anyone in your household over 16 years old and anyone who will be working with you.

Once you’ve done that, all being well, you will receive an Ofsted registration certificate, you can then apply for insurance and start work as a childminder.

Your potential earnings as a childminder will vary depending on the number of children cared for, and the number of hours that you are prepared to work. Typically a childminder working full-time could earn between £11,500 and £17,000 a year. It’s not a business opportunity that’ll make you rich, but if working with children is what you enjoy it could be a great home business and would fit in nicely with looking after your own kids (if you have any).

This post is part of a series in my home business ideas week.

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