How to become a Childminder

Official title: Childminders

Also called: Childminder, Nurse maid, Child carer, Baby sitter, Child minder, Mother's help, Children's nurse

Childminders provide day-to-day care of children in their own homes, and supervise and participate in their play, educational and other activities.

Main tasks

• Changes babies’ nappies and clothes as necessary and makes up bottles for feeds
• Plans, prepares and serves children’s meals and supervises children during meals
• Provides, supervises and participates in children’s indoor and outdoor play activities to promote their development
• Takes children to participate in play groups or on appropriate outings
• Takes older children to and from school
• Maintains appropriate records of children’s development
• Complies with regulations set by OFSTED and their inspection requirements

How to become one

Entry may not depend upon academic qualifications, although employers may expect a candidate to possess a qualification accredited by the Council for Awards in Children’s Care or other qualifications. Childminders must be registered with OFSTED to care for children under the age of 8 years. NVQs/SVQs in Child Care and Education are available at levels 2 and 3. A minimum age limit of 18 years applies, and a DBS check is mandatory.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £24,278 a year
• About 66,600 people work in this job now, and about 73,000 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)

Related jobs

• Early education and childcare assistants
• Teaching assistants
• Educational support assistants
• Nannies and au pairs
• Playworkers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Childminder?

Entry may not depend upon academic qualifications, although employers may expect a candidate to possess a qualification accredited by the Council for Awards in Children’s Care or other qualifications. Childminders must be registered with OFSTED to care for children under the age of 8 years. NVQs/SVQs in Child Care and Education are available at levels 2 and 3. A minimum age limit of 18 years applies, and a DBS check is mandatory.

How much does a Childminder earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £24,278 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Is a Childminder a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 66,600 to about 73,000 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a Childminder?

Not always. 29% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03