Childminding Assistants and Staff

Childminder Guides > Childminder Assistants and Staff

Changes from September 2026

These are the latest changes to the EYFS 2026 which will need to be reflected in your safer recruitment paperwork.

Staff Deployment changes for the EYFS September 2026 [NEW July 2026]

Employing an Assistant [UPDATED July 2026]

DBS Changes for Volunteers from September 2026 [NEW July 2026]

Safer Recruitment Checklist [NEW July 2026]

How to register an assistant with Ofsted

You must follow safer recruitment procedures when taking on an assistant.

You must follow safer recruitment procedures when taking on an assistant. An assistant can be employed if they have fixed days and hours of work or self-employed if they are freelance (free to work elsewhere). You can check your assistant’s employment status for tax purposes using this HMRC website.

From 1st September 2026 any new assistant will need an Ofsted suitability letter before they can start working with you in the setting.

Before you start the Ofsted application process, you should check whether you need local authority planning permission.

The applicant might need to apply for a new DBS check.

You must complete the Report new people in the setting form to notify Ofsted of your intention to work with an assistant.

Ofsted might ask the applicant to complete a health check.

When your assistant has competed the application process and received their suitability letter from Ofsted, you must deliver induction training. This is set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for childminders (paragraph 3.39). Childcare.co.uk has further induction training guidance to support you.

We have received confirmation from Ofsted and the DfE, that self-employed childminder assistants are able to be included in counting the staff:child ratios in settings.

You will need to add your assistant to your insurance. Childcare.co.uk childminder insurance automatically includes cover for a registered assistant.

If you want to leave your assistant unsupervised with children, you must have written permission from parents.

Before you can leave your assistant unsupervised with children, they must have completed a 12-hour paediatric first aid training course. Childcare.co.uk gold members receive a discount for the Tigerlily first aid course.