If a person holds a level 2 qualification that meets the level 2 full and relevant criteria (see below), you can count them towards the EYFS staff:child ratios at level 2.

The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act overrides the requirements of the National Regulations. The updated requirements for services employing trainees include the trainee: is not left alone with children at any time. may be included in any staff to child ratio calculation.

A staff-to-child ratio is a measure of the number of children for whom each child care provider is responsible. The staff-to-child ratio is usually stated in numerical terms. For example, if each caregiver cares for 10 children, the ratio is 1 to 10.

Higher child-to-staff ratios mean that staff would find it harder to deal with each child’s individual needs. Childminders have to walk children to and from schools and pre-schools every day. Higher child-to-staff ratios means greater safety issues on these walks.

Maintaining Ratios First and foremost, it assists with the supervision of children and youth; it is much easier to supervise smaller groups of children. Second, it diminishes the transmission of communicable disease. Third, it allows teachers to provide more individual attention to children.

two

Nursery fees are sometimes subsidised by local authorities or employers. You can use childcare vouchers or claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit to help with the cost. They’re usually more expensive than childminders (see our average childcare costs comparison.

Full Time Place: £150 – £250 per week (average £207.55) Part-time Places: £30 – £35 per day. Before and After School: £3.50 – £5.50 per hour (average £83 per week)

London has the highest hourly rates for childcare at an average of £8.45, a massive 26 per cent higher than the UK average of £6.69. This figure takes into account the average hourly cost charged by childminders, babysitters, nannies and day nurseries in the region.

All families of 3 & 4-year olds can claim free early education of up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks. This is paid directly to settings at a rate of £6.85 per hour. Working families may also be eligible for an additional 15 hours per week of funded early education. This is called the 30 hours offer.

However, that is dependent on you being able to fill those spaces. Most parents only want a couple of days a week or a few hours per day, so you will need some juggling. The majority of childminders (in our area anyway) seem to earn around £20-25k per year. You can charge more for weekends and an out of hours service.

Before you register, you’ll usually need:

• a childcare qualification approved by your local council.
• a paediatric first aid course.
• training in safeguarding children.
• training in food hygiene.

Profits from childminding are usually chargeable to Income Tax as trade profits, although some occasional childminders’ profits may be chargeable as miscellaneous income. HMRC entered into an agreement with the NCMA on the expenses that will be allowed as deductions from childminding income.

Becoming a childminder is a highly rewarding career; however, given its reputation for being a low-paid job, it has made many hesitant to pursue this career.

If children aged 4 and 5 only attend the childminding setting before and/or after a normal school day and/or during school holidays, they may be cared for at the same time as three other young children. Childminders must obtain parental permission to leave children with an assistant.

Childminders tend to work long days to accommodate working parents. Their core hours are usually between 7.30am and 6pm. This will vary though, so you’ll need to find a childminder with working hours that fit in with yours. Some childminders may also work at the weekend.

How long does it take to become a registered childminder? It typically takes around three months to complete registration as a childminder with Ofsted – but it can take longer when you factor in qualifying for a first aid certificate, DBS checks and getting your health declaration signed.

You will need to register with Ofsted or a Childminder Agency before you can look after children under the age of eight years of age for more than two hours a day. Registration can take up to 12 weeks. It is an offence to provide such childcare without being registered or on premises that have not been approved.

six children

It is most certainly not ‘easy’ to pass an Ofsted inspection which is what all childminders must have at least every 2 years. Many childminders have or are working towards additional childcare and other training and qualifications and years more experience in hands on care than lots of young nursery nurses.

The steps you need to take to become a registered childminder in England

1. DBS checks.
2. First aid certificate.
3. Training.
4. Health declaration.
5. References.
6. Apply for registration.
7. Home inspection.
8. Receive registration certificate.

The typical cost of a full-time day nursery place is about £210 a week for a child younger than two. In some areas, such as London, the average cost rises to £280. Day nursery places tend to be more expensive for children under two. It gets a little cheaper as your child gets older.

One of the longest and most detailed studies of UK childcare has concluded that young children who are looked after by their mothers do significantly better in developmental tests than those cared for in nurseries, by childminders or relatives.

Some childminders will look after children from when they’re babies, right through to secondary school. This continuity will give your child a great sense of security and reassurance. Parents tend to value the family-friendly service childminders provide.

The UK, the average cost of sending a child under two to nursery is: £138 per week – part time (25 hours) £263 per week – full time (50 hours).

Some families can get 15 hours free childcare and early education, per week for 38 weeks of the year (570 hours) for 2 year olds. If you are eligible, you can get 15 hours a week free during term time, at a nursery, children’s centre, childminder or some Islington Primary Schools.

for your company? Nurseries are the cheapest form of childcare, costing an average of £4.95 an hour – £6.47 in London and £6.33 in the East Midlands. Childminders cost a little more, at an average of £5.45. However, nannies cost more than double the price of a nursery at £10.43 per hour, rising to £11.11 in London.

Multiply the monthly amount by 12 and divide the result by 52. Take the charges for the previous 12 months, add them together and divide by 52. If no childcare has been paid for the last 12 months then the legislation states that any method which HMRC think is reasonable can be used.

“Most nurseries are barely turning a profit, barely staying afloat. The cost of providing childcare is quite significant,” she says. There are strict ratios between staff and children for each age-group, so despite low wages staff salaries are a big proportion of the overheads.