What is a Registered Childminder?
“There is no occupation more important than looking after children. A Childminder not only protects and cares for a child, but also has a profound influence on the child’s future. As a carer and an educator – and there is no neat distinction between these roles – a Childminder can become one of the central figures in a child’s world. That is why quality in childminding is crucial.”
Hanna MLA 2002
A Registered Childminder is: ‘a person who looks after 1 or more children under the age of 12, for more than 2 per day, on domestic premises for reward’ children
(NI) Order 1995
Registered Childminders are self employed day care providers who work in their own home to provide care and learning opportunities for other people’s children within a family setting. They are registered and inspected by Health & Social Care Trusts on a regular basis.
Registered Childminders may be registered to care for up to 6 children between the ages of 0 – 12 years of age (including their own children).
To achieve registration, the Childminder is assessed to ensure that they are able to offer a quality Childminding environment; this includes complying with standards of safety, equipment and numbers of children. The home environment is checked to ensure that it meets the standards required and that it is a suitable environment to care for children. References and health checks are required as are police checks on all individuals in the household over the age of 10.
