Childminder

Childminders have rewarding, responsible careers providing care and early education for young children with all the benefits of home-based working.

Managing a business-like relationship with parents, childminders are well respected and important to the families who employ them.

Many childminders join networks linked with local children’s centres and extended schools, where they contribute to the centre’s outreach service.

Some childminders take leadership roles as network co-ordinators. Liaising with a children’s centre team, a co-ordinator enables network colleagues to use the centre’s toy libraries, meeting rooms and stay and play sessions. Childminders may use a centre’s creche facilities so they can attend staff training and meet other early years professionals. The co-ordinator oversees vacancy co-ordination and holiday cover and represents colleagues at meetings for centre staff and agencies delivering children’s centre services.

A childminder’s typical day might include visiting a park, local shops, library, playgroup or children’s centre. We plan fun and stimulating learning activities, monitors each child’s development, provides meals and snacks and takes children to and from school, preschool and clubs. Many childminders join in communal activities with colleagues.