Want to find the best childminder course to get qualified? Ofsted lists three topics in particular as a must to care for children under 5. There are plenty of online courses for childminders that claim to meet these Ofsted requirements, but which ones are essential, how do you find the best ones, and what might they cost? Read on for a quick breakdown!
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Mandatory: Paediatric first aid course
You can’t register as a qualified childminder with Ofsted or a childminding agency if you don’t complete a up-to-date childminder first aid course specifically designed for children. The course will teach you how to deal with accidents big and small for babies, toddlers, and children. It needs to be at least 12 hours, and the fees for a suitable childminder course can be anything from £60–£200.
Mandatory: Safeguarding course
Ofsted sometimes refers to a safeguarding course as a ‘child protection course’, but they are the same thing. You will need to demonstrate an understanding of the safeguarding process during your childminder registration visit, and have a safeguarding policy in place too. The costs for this can range from £50–£200.
Mandatory: Early years foundation stage course
Ofsted expects childminders to read and understand the EYFS framework. It will be part of your daily routine, and most childcare providers keep a record of children’s progress in a learning journal. Understanding of childhood development for the early years isn’t just important—it’s vital. It can be hard to tell if the courses you find cover what you need as a childminder, but the fees can be anything from £10–£120.
Important: Food hygiene course
The safe preparation and storage of the food you serve in your setting seems like a no-brainer, so it’s surprising that this course is optional for qualified childminders. An online food hygiene course that covers what you need in an early years setting could cost you £15–£35.
Important: Safe sleep course
Children need a safe space to sleep, and that means a healthy ‘sleeping environment’ for naps. Knowing what’s right and wrong here is vital for children’s safety, and really important to parents. The fee for a basic safe sleep course for childminders is around £25.
Useful: Positive behaviour management course
What is positive behaviour management? Well, it’s mainly about dealing with the tantrums you’ll face when looking after children under 5 (spoiler—they’re going to happen). Luckily, this will teach you how to prevent tantrums before they start, and handle them calmly when they do. If you want to learn how to address negative behaviour in a positive way, it can cost about £25–£35 for an appropriate childminder course.
Useful: Serving food, and meal plans
Children don’t run on giggles alone, so when it’s time to tuck in it’s good to have some solid knowledge about what to cook at meal-times, menus, nutrition and more. A course like this focusses on what goes in the food and how to serve it, how much, when, and why. It’s a bit different to a food hygiene course which covers safe preparation and storage. Fees for a basic introduction to meal plans and serving food in your setting are usually £20–£30.
More to learn
How much does it cost to become a childminder?
Keep in mind these additional costs if you are registering as a childminder with Ofsted:
- £35.00 Ofsted Registration fees Early Years register, yearly
- £48.10 Enhanced DBS check (for every person aged 16+ in your home, then £13.00 yearly)
- £35.00–£90.00 Health declaration
- £25.00–£100.00 Public liability insurance
- £40.00 ICO (digital records of children)
- £170–£1500.00 Accountant, yearly
- Equipment and furniture (you can get a £500 interest-free loan for this with Koru Kids as your childminding agency)
Are these included in a free childminder course?
If you choose to become a childminder with a childminding agency such as tiney, they’ll usually offer a free childminder course that covers everything you need (and want) to know.
And don’t forget our free online introductory childcare course, if you’re still unsure about what to do. You can take our childcare course at home, and at a time that suits you.
Not sure childminding is right for you?
