• Find an early years and childcare inspection report
• Understanding an early years and childcare inspection report
• Types of early years and childcare Ofsted inspects
• Inspecting early years and childcare
• Types of early years and childcare Ofsted regulates
• Regulating early years and childcare; applying to be a provider
  • About the two early years and childcare registers
  • Registration not required
  • Before the registration process as a childminder
  • Registering as a childminder
    • Completing your application to be a childminder
    • The visit - part of registration for childminding
    • Your certificate for childminding
  • After registration as a childminder
• Safeguarding children
• Children's centres
• About our survey reports
• How to complain

Registering as a childminder

Registering on the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register

Early Years Register

We have two guides to help you.

You need to read our Guide to registration on the Early Years Register: childminder. Depending on the ages of the children that you want to care for, you may need to register on the Childcare Register, so go to Guide to registration on the Childcare Register.

You will need to complete the forms in the Early Years Register application pack. You will also need to complete relevant Criminal Records Bureau forms. You can apply online; download the forms from our website; or get an application pack from your local authority. Help to complete the forms is available from the local authority.

You can apply online using the Ofsted Online website.

Once you have completed the forms, you can send them to us with the application fee.

We will carry out checks on you with the Criminal Records Bureau and your local authority. We carry out checks on anyone connected to your application; this includes anyone who may live or work on the premises that you plan to use. The process can take up to 12 weeks.

Childcare Register

We have a guide to help you register: Guide to registration on the Childcare Register.

For a prospective provider, the process begins with making a declaration to confirm that you will meet the requirements of registration and paying an application fee.

If you only want to register on the Childcare Register, then you can apply online, or use the Childcare Register application pack that is available from us. You can apply online using the Ofsted Online website.

You will also need to complete relevant Criminal Records Bureau forms.

Registering on the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register

If you want to register on the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register, then you just have to complete the forms in the Early Years Register application pack, as these include an option to also apply for the Childcare Register. You will also need to complete relevant Criminal Records bureau forms. You can apply online, download the forms from our website; or get an application pack from your local authority who will also help you complete the forms if you need it.

Once we've received your completed application, we will carry out checks on you with the Criminal Records Bureau and your local authority as well as a check with your doctor about your health. We will also carry out checks on anyone else connected to your application; this includes anyone who may live or work in the home environment that you plan to use. We will also check the home you intend to use for childminding and interview you. The process can take up to 12 weeks.

Refusing registration

If we refuse to register you then you cannot offer a childminding service for which registration is required.

If we refuse registration, then you can appeal. This process allows you to appeal to an external body – the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber First-tier Tribunal. For further information go to Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted.