Childcare and Early Years

Registered childminders are childcare professionals who work in their own homes caring for other people’s children for more than 2 hours in any one day.

We have a team of dedicated childcare development officers in each local area who provide support to newly registered and established childminders and those wishing to register. Please view our current Childminder Information Pack (PDF) which has details of the registration process and details of the dedicated childcare development officers in each local area who provide support to newly registered and established childminders and those wishing to register.

There is a Childminder Pre-registration Information Session webinar available to view on our learning management system to help you understand the process of registration and purpose of registration. Please register an account and search for "Childminder Pre-registration Information Session". There are useful handouts available within the course description and under the resources section of the videos.

This recorded session is suitable for anyone thinking of setting up as a childminder within the Central Bedfordshire area. The session covers:

• who needs to register with Ofsted
• the challenges faced by childminders
• working within the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework for Childminders
• cost and business implications of becoming a registered childminder
• Ofsted registration procedure and requirements

For more information, or to speak with your local area childcare development officer, please email earlyyears@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk stating the town you live in.