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Choosing a childminder

Nationally childminders currently make up the largest group of childcare providers.

A childminder is someone who is registered by Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education) in their own home to care for unrelated children under the age of eight for more than two hours per day for reward.

Parents will choose childminders for their children for many reasons including

they may offer more flexible hours arranged to meet the needs of the family. Some childminders can offer weekends and shift work patterns
childminders offer a warm, safe home setting which will often suit a very young child
siblings of different ages can be cared for together
small numbers of children receive individual attention and continuity of care – a childminder may look after your child from a young baby right through to when the child starts senior school.

The number of children a childminder is registered for will be stated on the registration certificate issued from Ofsted.

Group childminders where two or more people are registered together can look after larger numbers of children.

We have several partners registered to group childmind, mothers and daughters or friends.

Some childminders also work with an assistant.

To find a childminder in your area, you can use the family information service directory - Haringey's online services directory for children and young people aged 0 to 20. Alternatively use the the childcare link service in the useful external links below.

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