A childminder is registered with Ofsted on two registers - the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register.

The Early Years Register is for childminders caring for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday.

The Childcare Register is made of two parts, the Compulsory and the Voluntary

The Compulsory part if for childminders who care for children from the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage to seven years of age.

The Voluntary part is for childminders who intend to care for children aged between eight and 17 years.

Please note that for the Voluntary part of the Childcare Register that childminders and home childcarers must have successfully completed a qualification at a minimum of level 2 in an area of work relevant to childcare or training in the core skills as set out in the document 'common core of skills and knowledge for the children's workforce'

The Requirements for the Childcare Register: childminders and home childcarers can be found at: