How to be… A Childminder

If you like the idea of working from home, love children and have endless patience then a career as a  childminder might be perfect for you.

Childminders usually look after children from their own homes while the child’s parents are at work. Your hours of work will depend on the needs of the parents and particularly when you are starting out and looking for business you may need to be flexible.

This is a career you can take up at any stage of life although you need to be at least eighteen before you start.

All childminders who look after children younger than eight must register with Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education. Registration includes an inspection and criminal records checks on the childminder, and anyone over 16 years old who lives in the same house.

Checks are made on safety and hygiene in the house. Continued registration depends on satisfactory regular checks to make sure that standards are kept up.

To be a successful childminder you will need :

• Patience
• A good awareness of health and safety issues
• Knowledge of child protection issues
• Good organisation and flexibility
• Imagination and good communication skills
• To be reliable and able to use your own initiative
• The skills to run your own business and keep financial records

For more information visit the Northern Ireland Childminding Association website at www.nicma.org.