When it comes to part time jobs and careers, there are lots of types of roles out there to suit most people. For some of you, you might want to work part time but not necessarily have to go out to a place of work. If you are looking for ideas for part time jobs where you could work from home but also have lots of variety in your role, why not consider part time childminder jobs?
Childminder jobs would suit those of you who already have children to look after at home. Ir, of course, those of you who love to look after children and feel the reward of making a difference to the lives of children and their families.
The cost of childcare in the UK is very much at the forefront of the agenda at the moment, especially since the 2023 Spring budget announcement. Many parents who really want to get back into the workplace have felt unable to do so because of the very high costs of childcare in the UK. Many parents simply cannot afford to go out to work.
So, as a childminder, you would be offering a solution to these families and you would also be earning a living by doing a rewarding job.
As you might expect, in the UK, childminders are in high demand. With the government keen to get people back into work following the pandemic, that demand is expected to grow in the coming years.
So, if becoming a childminder sounds like it might be right up your street, read on. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to get started.
What Is A Childminder?
First of all, what exactly is a childminder?
Well, you won’t be surprised to learn that all childminders need to be registered childcare providers. Childminders work in their own home and provide care and education for children whilst their parents are working or fulfilling other commitments.
It can be a great job for people who love to be around children, who want to be self-employed and who want to work from their own home.
As you might expect, childminder jobs will see you working a variety of hours. Once you are an established childminder and have built up a positive reputation, you should be able to choose the hours you work.
Childminders offer a range of services. For working parents, they often need someone to look after their children when they aren’t in school. So you might be working early mornings where parents drop their children with you before school. Likewise, you could be responsible for picking up those children after school and looking after them until parents finish work.
In the school holidays, this will mean looking after those children throughout the whole day. And if you are looking after babies and toddlers, obviously, there would be no school time to break up this day.
As a registered childminder working for yourself, you would be able to choose the ages of the children you want to look after to make the role work for you in the best way. And you should also be able to create a good work life balance in the process.
How Do You Become A Childminder?
Becoming a childminder in the UK is relatively easy. And the good news is, the startup costs are low when compared to costs for other businesses. The main costs are in the initial outlay at the beginning.
The process requires a combination of training, qualifications, and registration with the appropriate regulatory bodies. This beginning part of the process can be costly and time consuming. It is worth checking with your local authority to see if there is any support available for people who want to become childminders.
The following steps are essential to becoming a childminder:
Step 1: Complete A First Aid Course
All childminders need to be proficient in First Aid and obtain a certificate in Paediatric First Aid.
There are lots of official bodies that provide these First Aid courses. You just need to make sure that the course you do meets the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) requirements.
First Aid refresher courses will need to be done every three years whilst you are working as a childminder.
Step 2: Attend Pre-registration Training
All new childminders are required to attend pre-registration training.
This training will cover a range of topics, including child development, safeguarding, inclusivity, working with parents and health and safety. The training course you do will need to correspond to the age group Register you are going to be registered with.
The training will also provide you with information on the legal requirements of childminding and the registration process.
You can contact your local authority to see if they offer these courses or if they have a list of reputable organisations they can recommend. If you are not in a position to go out and attend a course in person, the good news is that many providers offer online courses so you should be able to do the course from your own home.
Step 3: Complete a DBS Check
Before you can register as a childminder, you will need to apply for, and complete, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a criminal records check that ensures you do not have a criminal record that would make you unsuitable for working with children.
As well as doing this for yourself, you will also need to do it for other people over the age of 16 who will be in your house when you are looking after children. This includes people who might be working in your home such as a cleaner.
If you have lived abroad in the last 5 years, you will also need to provide a certificate of good character from the embassy of the country you were living in.
Step 4: Health Declaration
To work with children, you need to be in a good state of health. The Health Declaration form is completed by both yourself and your GP.
Step 5: References
Childminder jobs are no different to other jobs in the respect that you will need to get two references.
Step 6: Register with Ofsted
In the UK, most childminders must register with the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) or a childminder agency. Depending on the age of the children you will be looking after, you might need to register with one or both of the following: The Early Years Register and / or the Childcare Register.
The Early Years Register is for if you are looking after young children up to the age of 5.
The Childcare Register is for if you are looking after children between the ages of 5 and 8 years old.
Be aware that legislation differs slightly between the countries of the United Kingdom so make sure you are aware of the exact legal requirements for becoming a childminder in your country.
Step 7: Create A Safe And Stimulating Environment
Once you have registered as a childminder, it is essential to create a safe and stimulating environment for the children in your care.
This includes ensuring your home is child-friendly, with appropriate safety equipment, toys, and learning resources.
Because you are looking after other people’s children, there will be a home inspection by Ofsted if you are intending to be on the Early Years Register. There is no inspection if you will be looking after children between the ages of 5 and 8.
Step 8: Get Insured As A Childminder
This is essential – and there are specialist providers of insurance for childminders.
Step 9: Get Organised And Market Your Services
As with the running of any business, you will need to market your services if you want to become a successful childminder.
You can start by advertising your services locally and networkşng with other local childminders. This can be useful if they are asked to take on more children but are unable to do so. They might be able to recommend your services to the parents.
Create branding for your childminding business with a catchy name and create a social media presence such as a Facebook page as well as a website.
Make sure you have testimonials from your satisfied clients and also ask them to recommend your services to others.
What Are The Benefits Of Being A Childminder?
If you have made the effort to go through the training and registration process of becoming a childminder, what are the benefits of choosing this career?
Childminding offers many benefits, including:
Flexibility
As a childminder, you can choose your own hours and work around your family commitments. This means you can work part-time or full-time, depending on your needs, giving you a good work life balance.
Be Your Own Boss
Childminding is a self-employed role, which means you are your own boss.
You have the freedom to choose how you work, who you work with, and how much you charge.
Check locally what other childminders in your area are charging so that you know you aren’t overcharging or undercharging for your services.
The Knowledge And Satisfaction That You Make a Real Difference
Childminding is really not a career that is purely about making money. It is a rewarding career that provides the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and their families.
As a childminder, you will be responsible for the care and education of the children in your care, helping them to develop the skills they need to succeed in life.
You will also build up relationships with them and be a part of their growth as a human being.
Job Security
For any business start up, it can be nervous times, hoping your business will be a success. If you have done your research and know there is a demand in your area, childminding jobs are going to keep you busy!
Childminding is a growing industry in the UK, with an increasing demand for high-quality childcare services.
This means that there is good job security for childminders who have built up a good reputation for providing excellent childcare in the local community.
Work From Home Childminders
Work From Home jobs are popular with people for lots of reasons. One of the biggest advantages of childminding is that you can work from home. For many business owners, they have the costs of paying for premises and the commute to and from those premises.
Childminding jobs don’t have those overheads.
And because you are often in your own home, this also provides a comfortable and familiar environment for the children in your care, helping them feel more at ease and secure.
Build Strong Relationships
As a childminder, you have the opportunity to build strong relationships not only with the children in your care but also with their families.
This can be incredibly rewarding and can lead to long-term connections that last for many years.
Learn New Skills
Childminding provides the opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience in childcare and early education.
If you have worked with children in nurseries, schools or other areas, you will know there are constant developments in childcare training.
As a childminder, you can also attend training courses and conferences to develop your skills and knowledge further and to keep yourself up to date with latest thought and developments.
This will help to boost your reputation as parents will know you are taking your career – and the welfare of their child – seriously.
So, do you think a career in childminding is for you? If so, start your journey now by speaking with friends and family about your decision. Get their opinion. If you know any childminders locally, speak with them to find out other benefits – and, of course, the pitfalls of this career choice, too.
Working with children is both challenging and hugely rewarding. If you can combine this with the ability to work from home and to work flexible hours, it could be the perfect combination.
