Setting Up a Childminding Service

What is a childminder?

A Childminder cares for a small group of children of mixed ages in the childminder’s own home.

Children are offered affection and positive relationships within a safe and healthy environment where their developmental and recreational needs are met. Childminders offer a flexible service, tailored to each child, thereby helping parents and guardians to balance their work and family commitments. A Childminder negotiates and agrees her/his terms with parents. The child’s welfare must be the prime consideration of the Childminder. Childminders have sole responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of each child entrusted to their care.

Benefits of becoming a childminder

If you enjoy working with children, why not consider becoming a Childminder?

Childminding can offer you an opportunity to:

Earn a living by caring for other people’s children in your own home
Become self-employed
Offer the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)
Stay at home and care for your own children as well as caring for others
Avail of the Childcare Services Relief with Revenue
Avail of information, networking and training supports from your local City / County Childcare Committee (CCC)
Access the Childminding Development Grant and other funding opportunities
Meet other Childminders in your area and get to know your local community

Click above to view

Steps to become a professional childminder

Contact the Development Officer in your local City/County Childcare Committee.
Participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) such as First Aid, Children First E-Learning programme and CPD resources available on First 5
Arrange a support visit (where applicable) to access advice on the physical layout and set up of the service.
Organise 2 written references and take copies to share with potential parents.
Organise insurance cover.
Develop your own Childminding Policies & Procedures by consulting the samples available in the ‘Childminding Sample Policies & Procedures’.
Develop your own Childminding Record Keeping system by consulting the samples available in the ‘Childminding Sample Record Keeping Forms’.
Complete and return the Voluntary Notification Form to your local CCC.
If required to do so, register your childminding service with Tusla.
Register your new childminding business with Revenue.
Decide on your fee policy and preferred hours of work etc.
Request that your contact details be included in your local CCC Directory of ELC/SAC Services.
Participate in organised childcare networks to meet other Childminders.
Design a flyer and place in your local supermarket, library, parent & toddler group preschool / school etc.
Place advertisement on social media platforms or in the local newspapers.

Support & Resources for childminders

Fingal County Childcare Committee supports Childminders to

avail of relevant up to date childminding information
develop appropriate Policies and Procedures
access funding supports such as The Childminding Development Grant and Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders
participate in local network opportunities with other Childminders
avail of local training opportunities
register with Tusla (if applicable)
connect with parents who are seeking childminding care

Contact us at Fingal CCC on 01 4851727 or info@fingalcountychildcare.ie

You can find other CCC details at the following link: https://myccc.ie/

First 5

The First 5 website provides childminders with
specific childminding resources, it also has other Practice Support sections.

First 5 website → Practitioners → Guidance → Childminding section.

It’s important all childminders routinely view the website as it is updated regularly with government advice and resources. e.g. Tip sheets, posters, etc. Childminding section.

Child Protection and Welfare

It is important to note that all Tusla registered Childminders must have Garda Vetting, but best practice is that all Childminders and your emergency backup contact should be Garda Vetted.
This service is free unless you have lived in other countries for more than 6 months.

Child Safeguarding website: Cosiane Leanai

Childminding Ireland provides a childminding specific insurance package

National Action Plan for Childminding

The National Action Plan for Childminding is a pathway to be developed over the next 8 years that sets out steps towards regulation, support and subsidies, for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and significant benefits for childminders, children and the families using their services.

The aim of the Action Plan is to provide greater recognition for childminding and to support childminders in their work of providing high quality early learning and care and school age childcare, thus supporting child development, and learning outcomes and helping families.

More information on the National Action Plan for Childminding

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