Definition

A person who is registered to look after one or more children (to whom they are not related) under the age of eight on domestic premises for reward and for a total of more than two hours in any day.

Childminders:

Care for children on domestic* premises which are not the home of one of the children, or

Care for children from more than two families wholly or mainly in the home of one of the children, and

Work with no more than two other childminders or assistants.

 * Domestic premises

Any premises which are wholly or mainly used as a private dwelling, that is someone's home.

                         Extracted from Ofsted publication "Are you ready for your inspection?"

Each Childminder may care for:

A maximum of six children under the age of eight;

of these six children, a maximum of three may be young children**, however, where four-and-five year old children attend the childminding setting before and/or after a normal school day, they may be classes as children over the age of five for the purposes of the adult:child ratio;

normally, no more than one child may be under the age of one, however a childminder may be registered to care for two children under the age of one where they are able to demonstrate that they can meet and reconcile the individual needs of all the children being cared for.

Exceptions to these ratios can be made for siblings and to provide continuity of care in certain circumstances approved by Ofsted, provided that the total number of children under the age of eight being care for does not exceed six.

If a childminder either employs an assistant or works with another childminder, the above numbers apply to each of these individuals in addition to the childminder.

** A child is a young child up until 1st September following his or her fifth birthday.

                          Extracted from Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage May 2008

Reassurance for parents:

A quick telephone to Ofsted will confirm their registration status if you are at all concerned 0300 123 4666.  Opening hours 8.00am - 6.00pm.