Find out more about becoming a childcare provider on Wirral
Before you start, consider if there is a demand for childcare in your local area. If you want to know what is already available, or if you would like support, advice, guidance on how to set up a childcare provision in Wirral please contact the Family Information Service either by email: fis@wirral.gov.uk or call 0151 666 3980.
You will then be directed to the appropriate childcare practice officer for the area in which you wish to set up your childcare provision.
Childcare Practice Officers
Childcare Practice Officers are experienced childcare professionals who support all registered childcare provision within Wirral.
They provide clear, practical advice to help you set up childcare, covering everything from Ofsted registration requirements and checking if your home or setting is suitable, to understanding local childcare needs and the training you’ll need. They’ll be with you every step of the way, right through to your Ofsted registration visit and beyond.
OFSTED
You will need to meet Ofsted requirements and have appropriate health checks and DBS checks to ensure that you are suitable to work with children before Ofsted will consider registering you.
Ofsted have produced a pre-registration briefing for those wishing to become childcare providers. Become a childcare provider: pre-registration briefing - GOV.UK
In order to be registered as Childcare on non-domestic premises, you will need to meet the requirements of the Early Years statutory Framework for Group and School-Based Providers.
Most providers caring for children under 8 years old for more than 2 hours a day in England must register with Ofsted on the Early Years register and the Compulsory part of the Childcare register. For children aged 8 and over, you can register on the Voluntary part of the Childcare register. You can discuss options with your allocated practice officer.
If you’re planning to become a childminder, you can choose to register with Ofsted or with a Childminder Agency instead. A full list can be found here: Childminder agencies: list of agencies - GOV.UK
To register, you need to be 18 or over and have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
It is a criminal offence to provide unregistered childcare, or childcare on unapproved premises, if you are legally required to register. Ofsted are responsible for carrying out a range of checks to ensure that only people who are suitable and ready to provide childcare are registered.
After your successful Ofsted registration visit, we will continue to support you for the time leading up to your first Ofsted inspection. This will be in the form of one-to-one support visits, telephone and email communications as appropriate.
You will be invited to our termly Early Years Provider cluster meetings and receive weekly email updates from the Early Years Childcare Practice and Entitlements Teams.
Once you are an Ofsted registered childcare provider you can apply to become a funding provider for children who are accessing under 2, 2, 3 and 4-year-old funding.
Further information for prospective childminders
To become an Ofsted registered childminder caring for children 0-19 years, you will need to do the following:
- attend a full 12 hour Paediatric first aid course as will any assistants working with you who might be in sole charge of children for any period. This first aid course will need to be renewed every three years. Find some of the available training providers.
- you must have a good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory framework for Childminders. If you have no previous experience of this framework you will need to devote time to develop a good understanding and may find it beneficial to complete an appropriate childminder training course. These courses are available through organisations such as ‘Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years’ (PACEY) or ‘The Early Years Alliance’.
- create an appropriate home environment. Your Childcare Practice Officer can come and visit your proposed childcare establishment to give advice and guidance on layout, risk assessment, health and safety, planning, etc.
- you also need to be aware that a formal planning application will not normally be required for an ancillary use of a terraced, semi-detached or detached dwelling-house by the occupier for child-minding, where up to six children are cared for at any one time (including the minder’s own children) and no outside staff are employed; so long as the use continues to be ancillary to the main use of the dwelling-house. You may need to apply for planning permission if you are aiming to care for more than six children at any one time. (This includes your own children). For individual enquiries contact Wirral Planning Department on: 0151 691 8454 or via the planning website.
- Ofsted have produced a briefing for those wishing to become a childminder. Become a childminder: pre-registration briefing - GOV.UK