Running your own Childcare Setting may be a life-long ambition, a new interest, or the next step in your childcare career.

Even if you have worked in childcare before it can be a daunting and long process. There are many things to consider, so you need to make sure you are fully prepared for what it will involve.

What does setting up a Registered Childcare Setting entail?

  • Regulated childcare encompasses a wide range of different types of provision which can be found on our Childcare in Ceredigion page
  • The setting will be registered with, regulated and inspected by Care Inspectorate Wales (Link to an external website)
  • Registered settings are subject to a set of National Minimum Standards for regulated childcare (Link to an external website) which will need to be achieved or exceeded
  • Structure must be in place for the type of provision to ensure compliance with the NMS
  • Employing appropriately qualified staff to ensure that all ratios and standards are met is essential. This includes ensuring that employment law is adhered to in all areas, including working conditions, pay and contributions
  • Ensuring that children and young people benefit from high quality care that helps them to develop holistically

How to start up a registered Childcare Setting

  • For free support and advice from the start, contact the Childcare Unit by calling Clic on 01545 570881 or by emailing clic@ceredigion.gov.uk. Our role is to support you, subsidise training costs and offer grants to registered childcare providers
  • Market Research - You will need to carry out market research to determine if there is a demand for the type of provision you intend to offer. Every local authority in Wales is required to carry out a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) every five years where childcare supply and demand is analysed and gaps in provision identified. The CSA can be a useful tool when researching childcare needs within a specific area
    Consider:
    • Area
    • Age of children
    • Operational hours
    • Language(s) of provision
    • Availability, type, and cost of premises
    • Fees to be charged
    • Competition
  • Finance - Business and financial planning are key to ensuring the sustainability of any business. It is important to consider all outgoing costs, such as rent/mortgage, wages, insurance and utilities as well as the cost of equipment. Use market research to calculate fees and charges
  • Business Support - Business Wales have a dedicated webpage for Childcare and Playwork providers (Link to an external website) to access the support they need to establish, develop and grow their business sustainably. Business Wales can also help you with all the information, advice, and guidance you need if you are considering starting a business from home (Link to an external website) or are growing your business. Please visit the Business Wales website (Link to an external website) and search ‘Childcare’
  • Registration - Information on how to Register a Childcare Setting with Care Inspectorate Wales can be found on their Register a Childcare and Play Service page (Link to an external site)
  • Staffing - Things to consider in relation to staffing a setting include:

If you believe that all children deserve the best start in life, are adaptable, flexible, and would like to run your own business from your own home, why not consider Childminding as a career?

As a Registered Childminder you will:

  • Be a trained childcare professional;
  • Offer the children you care for a happy, stimulating environment;
  • Provide learning opportunities and see the children develop;
  • Work in your home, choose the hours you work, and run your own business;
  • Be able to care for your own children alongside minded children (they will count in your numbers);
  • Be able to meet other Childminders, locally in networks, or online;
  • Receive regular newsletters from the Childcare Unit about training opportunities, grants and any changes in legislation

What does being a Registered Childminder entail?

  • If you look after one or more children under the age of 12, for more than two hours a day, in your own home, for payment (either in goods or money) you must, by law, register as a Childminder;
  • We Care Wales (Link to an external website) campaign by Social Care Wales explains what a job in the care sector entails, including Home-based Childcare (Link to an external website), and Amanda's video (Link to an external website) about being a Childminder;
  • You will need to register with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) (Link to an external website), who are the independent regulator of social care and childcare in Wales;
  • To do this, you will need to meet or exceed the National Minimum Standards (NMS) (Link to an external website);
  • Once registered, you will be inspected at least every 3 years, and be required to undertake regular training to keep your skills and knowledge up to date;
  • As a self-employed person, you will need to run your business in a legal manner and pay tax on your earnings by completing the self-assessment tax return (Link to an external website)

How to become a Registered Childminder in Ceredigion?

  • Contact the Childcare Unit by calling Clic on 01545 570881 or by emailing clic@ceredigion.gov.uk. Our role is to support you, subsidise training costs and offer grants to registered childcare providers;
  • Attend an online Childminder briefing session, where the Childcare and Training Coordinator will explain all of the training necessary and the process of becoming a Registered Childminder;
  • Attend a suitable pre-registration course; this is delivered over an 8-16 week period. This will enable you to develop your own policies and procedures to comply with regulations;
  • On completion of the pre-registration course you will be mentored by our officer to ensure that you have completed everything necessary to register as a childcare provider with CIW;
  • Attend and complete all mandatory courses including Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding Child Protection, Food Safety and Hygiene, Food Allergy and Intolerance and PREVENT (Radicalisation Awareness);
  • You will need to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS) for yourself and anyone over the age of 16 who is a member of the household;
  • Submit your application to CIW, who will contact you to arrange a premises visit and an interview;
  • Once registered you will continue to have the support of the Childcare Unit for the duration of your registration

Related Links:

The Welsh Government established the ‘Childcare at Home Voluntary Approval Scheme’, sometimes referred to as the “Nanny Scheme” as a voluntary scheme, administered by CIW. Amongst other things, inclusion within the scheme enables parents using an approved nanny, to receive financial assistance through a range of UK Government tax and benefits concessions such as Tax Credits, Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare, where they are eligible.

What does being a Nanny or someone registered on the Voluntary Approval Scheme entail?

Anyone applying for the scheme must be over 18 years of age. You must not be barred or be considered unsuitable to work with children.

How to become Registered under the Voluntary Approval Scheme

As a Registered Childcare provider it is your responsibility to ensure that your qualifications are up to date and that you plan your training in advance. It is recommended that you book your place on training courses 6 months in advance of the renewal date as places are limited and courses can fill up quickly.

Information about training courses (Mandatory and non-mandatory) for the Childcare workforce are shared by e-mail to all registered and unregistered settings by the Childcare Unit on a termly basis.

If you have any queries regarding training please contact the Childcare Unit:

Telephone: 01545 570881
E-mail: gofalplant@ceredigion.gov.uk

Training costs are subsidised by Ceredigion County Council Childcare Unit funding, but nominal charges must be paid by the childcare provider (costs dependent on course).

Business Support

Business Wales have a dedicated webpage for Childcare and Playwork (Link to an external website) providers to access the support they need to establish, develop and grow their business sustainably.

Business Wales can also help you with all the information, advice and guidance you need if you are considering starting a business from home (Link to an external website) or are growing your business. Please visit the Business Wales website (Link to an external website) and search ‘Childcare’.

Useful Information

Social Care Wales

Social Care Wales (Link to an external website) support the workforce and improvement in social care in Wales You can sign up to their monthly bulletin by e-mailing newsletter@socialcare.wales.

WeCare

WeCare (Link to an external website) aims to help attract, recruit and retain care staff in Wales. The website hosts a growing list of social care and early years employers in Wales, and you can find out more about the many opportunities to work with adults and children, and hear what it’s really like to work in care from those already doing the job.

You can also view a database of social care and early years providers who may have job opportunities.