Childminder Guides
Free Paperwork | Free Contracts | Paperwork & Admin | Marketing & Communication | Pre-Reg Advice | Getting Ready for your Ofsted Inspection | Inspections | Childminding Assistants | Safeguarding | Data Protection | Learning & Development | Learning Journeys | Preparing Children for School | Planning | Outside Play | Quality Teaching | Teaching Maths | Working with Parents | Parent Partnerships | Sharing Learning with Parents | Food & Health | Resources | Behaviour | Risk Assessments | SEND | Reflecting on your Provision | Scotland
What's New?
We have over 500 childminder guides and resources. Find out What's New? or updated in this section.
Search our Resource Library which contains hundreds of online guides and resources.
Read our guide to the new EYFS from September 2021
Support for Childminders
Read about some of the help and support for childminders provided by Childcare.co.uk including guides on setting up as a childminder.
FREE Childminder Paperwork
We believe childminders shouldn't have to pay for paperwork so have created free downloadable paperwork for childminders including over 25 statutory and non-statutory forms, accounts & recording keeping documents and lots more. We also have a free 126 page comprehensive Childminder Organiser available for all childminders.
Contracts, Terms & Conditions, sample Policies & Procedures and Permissions
All the information and paperwork you need to write your own contracts, terms and conditions, fees policy and permissions documents. Plus free policies and procedures for childminders.
FREE Childminder Insurance
Find out how Childcare.co.uk gold members can enjoy free childminder insurance including £10m Public Liability insurance, £10m Employers' Liability Insurance, £100,000 Professional Indemnity insurance, free Loss of Revenue & Suspension Cover and Legal Expenses cover.
Childminder Safety Blog
Free Childminder Safety Blog with lots of useful information on keeping children safe whilst in your care.
The Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook
Ofsted New Inspection Framework - Q&A
Learning & Development at Inspection - Q&A
Preparing for the Early Years Inspection
Developing Children’s Vocabulary in the Early Years [Updated 29th July 2021]
Reading to Early Years Children
Paperwork and Admin
How to Register as a Childminder in England 
- Free 6 Chapter guide including video tutorial, evidence audit, registration checklists, business management tips, advertising your childminding business, business sustainability, time management & organisation, interviewing new parents
Paperwork for Ofsted Registered Childminders - 43 page guide to statutory and recommended documents that every childminder needs. [Updated 28th April 2021]
Toy and Equipment Cleaning Rota
Babysitting Checklist [FREE] [Updated 29th July 2021]
Paperwork for the Childcare Register
Floor Space Requirements [NEW 29th July 2021]
Sustainability Planning [NEW March 2022]
Marketing and Communication
30 hours funding
How to make the most of 30 hours funding - Chapter 1
30 hours funding - Chapter 2
Pre-Registration Advice and Support
Pre-Registration Advice for Childminders
Planning Permission [Updated 26th May 2021]
Planning Permission - Government information letter [NEW 28th April 2021]
Getting Ready for your Ofsted Inspection
Getting Ready for your Ofsted Inspection
Planning for Inspection - Aiming for Outstanding
Evidence of Compliance with the EYFS
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Inspections
An Outstanding Ofsted Inspection
Dealing with Inspection Outcomes
Unannounced Ofsted Inspections
Top 10 Tips for a Successful Ofsted Inspection
Understanding the New Ofsted Inspection Requirements - Chapter 1
Understanding the New Ofsted Inspection Requirements - Chapter 2
Understanding the New Ofsted Inspection Requirements - Chapter 3
Preparing for an Inspection 2017/2018
The Revised Ofsted Inspection Framework 2019 - Chapter 1
The Revised Ofsted Inspection Framework 2019 - Chapter 2
Ofsted Inspection from May 2021 [NEW 28th April 2021]
Childminding Assistants and Staff
Registering a Childminder Assistant
Working with a Childminding Assistant (includes a useful checklist)
Staff Contract (example) [PDF]
Staff Contract (example) [Microsoft Word]
Working with a self-employed assistant
Managing Childminder Assistants [New 25th June 2020]
Safeguarding
Annual Safeguarding Updated [September 2020]
Safeguarding Update [July 2020]
Safeguarding Update [April 2019]
Safeguarding and Staff [Updated July 2020]
Safeguarding File Contents [Updated July 2020]
Safeguarding Audit [Updated July 2020]
Parental Responsibility [Updated July 2020]
Childminders and Online Safety
Writing a Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Quick Reference Cards
Teaching Children about Safeguarding
Keeping Children Safe by Age and Stage
Managing a Safeguarding Complaint 
Data Protection, GDPR & ICO
Our Data Protection section contains a comprehensive suite of Data Protection guides and resources.
Learning and Development
Learning and Development - Introduction [NEW 30th July 2021]
Learning and Development - All About Me and Starting Points [NEW 30th July 2021]
Learning and Development - Observation and Assessment [NEW 30th July 2021]
Learning and Development - Individual Planning [NEW 30th July 2021]
Learning and Development - Group Planning [NEW 30th July 2021]
Learning and Development - Continuous Provision Planning [NEW 30th July 2021]
Learning and Development - Evaluation [NEW 30th July 2021]
Transitions - Settling in Process
Working with other Settings CPD (includes CPD certificate)
Strengthen Links with other Settings
Communication & Language Toolkit
Learning Journeys
Supporting Transitions [Updated 11th August 2021]
Characteristics of Effective Learning - Chapter 1
Characteristics of Effective Learning - Chapter 2
Characteristics of Effective Learning - Chapter 3
Engaging Parents in their Child’s Learning [NEW 11th August 2021]
Engaging Children in their Learning [NEW 11th August 2021]
Preparing Children for School
Preparing Children for School - Intro
Preparing Children for School - Intro
Preparing Children for School - Chapter 1
Preparing Children for School - Chapter 2
Caring for Older Children
Caring for School Aged Children
Planning
Types of Planning for the EYFS
Annual Planning for Childminders
Individual Planning for Childminders
Planning for different types of Play
Planning Webs [Updated February 2022]
Continuous Provision Planning
Over 50 continuous provision and activity guides, closely linked to the 7 areas of learning of the EYFS
The 7 areas of learning - for Childminders
Group Planning 2022
Group Planning Archive
These are group planning guides from previous years but many are still relevant and useful
View the group planning archive
Outside Play
Outside All Year Play - Spring
Outside All Year Play - Summer
Outside All Year Play - Autumn
Outside All Year Play - Winter
Outside Play Planning - Chapter 1
Outside Play Planning - Chapter 2
Outside Play Planning - Chapter 3
Garden Learning Zones - Chapter 1
Garden Learning Zones - Chapter 2
Garden Learning Zones - Chapter 3
Outside Kitchen Recipes [NEW 28th February 2021]
Quality Teaching
Introduction to Quality Teaching
Teaching Maths
Maths Audit - Improve Maths in your Provision
Working with Parents
Parent Partnerships
Welcome Booklet [NEW 29th June 2020]
Managing Arrivals & Departures
More Ideas for Building Relationships
Parent/Childminder Consultations
Sharing Learning with Parents
Sharing Information with Parents
Chapter 1 - Observation, Assessment and Planning Information
Chapter 2 - Sharing Information about Outings
The 7 areas of learning – for Parents
Parents guide to the Childcare Register
Children Learning Through Play Here
Food and Health
Food and Drink - Breakfast and Snacktime
Food and Drink - Risk Assessments and Sharing Information with Parents
Food and Drink - Teaching Children to Make Health Choices
Food and Drink - Teaching Children to Make Health Choices - Part 2
Food and Drink - Teaching Children to Make Health Choices - Part 3
Healthy Bodies and Healthy Minds
Resources
Environments for Play & Learning [NEW February 2022]
Resources and the 7 Areas of Learning [NEW February 2022]
Resources for 0 to 1 year olds [NEW February 2022]
Resources for 1 to 2 year olds [NEW February 2022]
Resources for 2 to 3 year olds [NEW February 2022]
Resources for 3 to 4 year olds [NEW February 2022]
Multicultural & Diverse World [NEW February 2022]
Resources to Promote Diversity [NEW February 2022]
Resources to Promote Multiculturalism [NEW February 2022]
Managing Behaviour
Supporting the Challenging Child
Supporting Children with Bereavement [NEW March 2022]
Children's Behaviour
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Behaviour
Chapter 3 - Planning to Support Behaviour
Chapter 5 - Promoting Positive Behaviour
Chapter 7 - Supporting Strong Emotions
Chapter 8 - Supporting the Challenging Child
Chapter 9 - Common Behaviours Unpicked
Chapter 10 - Biting and Fighting
Risk Assessments
Writing Risk Assessments - part 2
Writing Risk Assessments - part 3
Writing Risk Assessments - part 4
Writing Risk Assessments - part 5
Risky Play in Early Years Provision
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
Caring for Children with Special Education Needs (SEND) Introduction [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 1 - Supporting Children with SEND [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 2 - Children with SEND at inspection [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 3 - Listening to children and parents [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 4 - Planning for children with SEND [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 5 - Managing children's individual needs [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 6 - Inclusion and an Audit [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Chapter 7 - SENCO toolkit [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Promoting Disability [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Promoting Equality of Opportunity [Updated 23rd December 2020]
Reflecting on your Provision
The Observation, Assessment & Planning Cycle
Planning and Resourcing the Early Years Environment
Scotland Childminding Guides
These guides have been specially produced for Scottish childminders.
Supporting Children's Learning
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