Choosing A Childminder

Childminders offer a home from home experience, but even then, there are different styles, settings and routines that they follow. Here are some things to consider and questions to ask a childminder either beforehand or during a face to face meeting, to help you find peace of mind and reach an informed decision that works for you.

  1. Ofsted - you can search online to see if they are Ofsted-approved and read their latest report. At the face-to-face meeting, ask them about their experience - did they think it was a fair rating? Have they changed anything since?

  2. Holidays - find out what their holiday arrangements are. Is it paid, or unpaid? How many weeks per year do they take? If you use a childminder agency, they might be able to arrange cover for holiday or sickness-related leave. It is worth clarifying what the policy is for when you take holidays too - are they paid or are you permitted a certain number of holiday days without being charged?

  3. Ask about their safeguarding or first aid training - are they up to date? If not, when will they be re-certified?

  4. Ask them what a typical day looks like? Are there any playgroups or sessions they attend regularly? Childminders can be very different in approach. Where some might prefer to stay at home or in the garden, others will venture further out and try new activities. Do they provide a record of what your child has been up to? How often?

  5. How many children do they look after on the days your child will attend? Check the ratio of children to carer(s).

  6. What schools or pre-schools do they drop off and pick up from? If not relevant now, it might be in the future.

  7. Pricing - what do they charge per hour? Does the price increase for peak hours? Is there a fine to pay for late collection, and if so, how much?

  8. Childcare vouchers - The government closed the Childcare Vouchers scheme to new entrants on 4th October 2018, but if you were registered before then you can still use these to pay some childminders. Find out if they accept them if you want to use them.

  9. The setting - you and your child should feel comfortable in their home. If there’s something you want to discuss with them, it’s better to get it out in the open before you commit. Arrange more than one visit to really get a feel for the setting at different times of day/days of the week. Find out who else lives in the home.

  10. Food and milk - some childminders will ask you to supply a cold packed lunch, whereas some will provide breakfast, lunch and snacks. Find out what their preference is and make sure you are happy to provide lunch, snacks and special milk (expressed milk or formula) if required. It’s also worth asking about any guidelines about the food you provide, for example, nut-free or low sugar.

  11. Nappies - most childminders will ask you to provide nappies. Ask if these can be bought in bulk and left at their home to save you from packing them in your nursery bag every day.

  12. Notice period - ask what the notice period is to terminate your contract. It is often a month but varies from person to person.

  13. References - don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations. Local Facebook groups are a good place to start and your local authority should have a list of approved childminders onl