Setting up a childminder service
What is a childminder?
A Childminder cares for a small group of children of mixed ages in the childminder’s own home.
Children are offered affection and positive relationships within a safe and healthy environment where their developmental and recreational needs are met. Childminders offer a flexible service, tailored to each child, thereby helping parents and guardians to balance their work and family commitments. A Childminder negotiates and agrees her/his terms with parents. The child’s welfare must be the prime consideration of the Childminder. Childminders have sole responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of each child entrusted to their care.
Benefits of becoming a childminder
If you enjoy working with children, why not consider becoming a Childminder?
Childminding can offer you an opportunity to:
- Earn a living by caring for other people’s children in your own home
- Become self-employed
- Offer the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)
- Stay at home and care for your own children as well as caring for others
- Avail of the Childcare Services Relief with Revenue
- Avail of information, networking and training supports from your local City / County Childcare Committee (CCC)
- Access the Childminding Development Grant and other funding opportunities
- Meet other Childminders in your area and get to know your local community
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Steps to become a professional childminder
Contact the Childminding Development Officer in the Tipperary Childcare Committee.
- Participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) such as First Aid, Children First E-Learning programme and CPD resources available on First 5
- Arrange a support visit (where applicable) to access advice on the physical layout and set up of the service.
- Organise 2 written references and take copies to share with potential parents.
- Organise insurance cover.
- Develop your own Childminding Policies & Procedures by consulting the samples available in the ‘Childminding Sample Policies & Procedures’.
- Develop your own Childminding Record Keeping system by consulting the samples available in the ‘Childminding Sample Record Keeping Forms’.
- Complete and return the Voluntary Notification Form to your TCCC.
- If required to do so, register your childminding service with Tusla.
- Register your new childminding business with Revenue.
- Decide on your fee policy and preferred hours of work etc.
- Request that your contact details be included in your local CCC Directory of ELC/SAC Services.
- Participate in organised childcare networks to meet other Childminders.
- Design a flyer and place in your local supermarket, library, parent & toddler group preschool / school etc.
- Place advertisement on social media platforms or in the local newspapers.
Contact us to receive these
helpful guides & more at info@tccc.ie
