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The short answer
You must register as a childminder in England if you look after children under 8 for more than 2 hours a day in your home for payment, including payment in kind. Most childminders join Ofsted's Early Years Register, with an annual fee of £35 (£103 if you only care for children aged 5 or older). Registration can take up to 12 weeks, and if you lived abroad in the past 5 years you need a certificate of good character from that country.
Childminding lets a parent earn from home while caring for their own children, and many Nigerian mothers and fathers in England see it as a way to fit work around school runs. It is also a regulated profession with an inspection regime. This guide explains the registration path from GOV.UK's guidance as it stood in August 2026, the real cost, and the step that most often delays applicants who moved from Nigeria.
Do you need to register?
Registration is required if you look after one or more children under 8 for more than 2 hours a day, in your home, and you are paid (money or payment in kind). Being paid by a friend or neighbour rather than a stranger makes no difference to the test. You can be fined for not registering when you should.
Which register
| Register | Ages | Annual Ofsted fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years Register | Birth to 31 August after the child's fifth birthday; you follow the early years foundation stage (EYFS) | £35 if you care for children aged 5 or under, or children of all ages |
| Childcare Register | From 1 September after the fifth birthday to the eighth birthday | £103 if you care only for children aged 5 or older |
Most new childminders who look after babies and toddlers join the Early Years Register, which brings the EYFS requirements on learning, safeguarding and ratios.
Steps to register
- First aid training for the age group you will care for.
- Enhanced DBS check with barred lists for home-based work.
- DBS checks for everyone aged 16 or over who lives in your home.
- Health declaration booklet completed with your GP.
- Two references.
- Certificate of good character from an embassy if you have lived abroad in the past 5 years.
- Childcare training, which your council can point you to.
- Apply to Ofsted (about 30 minutes online) or through a childminder agency.
- Registration visit from Ofsted. Childminders caring only for children over 5 usually do not get one.
GOV.UK says registration can take up to 12 weeks.
If you lived in Nigeria in the last five years
This is the step that most often slows applicants. The good character requirement asks for evidence from the country where you lived. For Nigeria, that usually means a Police Character Certificate, which you can request from the UK; see our guide to a Nigeria police character certificate from the UK. Start it at the same time as your UK checks, not after, and ask Ofsted what form of certificate it will accept if you are unsure.
What it costs to start
GOV.UK lists these typical costs:
| Item | Cost (GOV.UK figures, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Ofsted registration fee (per year) | £35 or £103 |
| Your DBS check | £49.50 |
| DBS for each household member aged 16+ | £49.50 each |
| DBS Update Service (recommended) | £16 a year |
| GP health declaration | About £90 |
| First aid course | About £60 to £200 |
| Childcare training | About £60 to £200 |
| Public liability insurance | About £25 to £100 |
| ICO registration for digital records | £40 |
Worked example: a childminder on the Early Years Register, with a husband and a 17-year-old in the home, pays £35 + £49.50 × 3 (£148.50) + £16 + £90 + £150 (first aid, mid-range) + £100 (training) + £60 (insurance) + £40 = £639.50 in the first year, before toys, safety equipment and any home changes. DBS fees were due to fall from 5 October 2026, so check the current figure.
Registering through a childminder agency instead
GOV.UK allows you to register through a childminder agency rather than directly with Ofsted. The agency carries out the registration visit and then inspects and supports you, and it charges for that service, so ask each agency what it costs before you choose. Some new childminders prefer an agency for the training and paperwork support in the first year; others prefer direct Ofsted registration because the fee is lower. Either way, the same requirements on checks, first aid and good character apply.
Running it as a business
- Register as self-employed with HMRC; see registering as a sole trader.
- Check your visa allows self-employment. Some visa routes restrict it.
- Ask your local council about funded early education hours, which many parents now use and which you can offer once eligible.
- Tell your home insurer and, if you rent, check your tenancy allows a home business.
Where Pryme fits
Childminders can invoice parents from a Pryme Business Account and keep business income apart from family money. Verifiable receipts, made with VerifyDoc.ai, give parents proof of what they paid.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to register as a childminder with Ofsted?
The annual Ofsted fee is £35 on the Early Years Register (or if you care for all ages) and £103 if you only care for children 5 or older. Add DBS checks, first aid, training, health declaration and insurance.
Does my husband need a DBS check if I become a childminder?
Yes. Everyone aged 16 or over who lives in your home needs a DBS check.
How long does childminder registration take?
GOV.UK says up to 12 weeks.
I lived in Nigeria three years ago. What do I need?
A certificate of good character from Nigeria, usually a Police Character Certificate, because you lived abroad in the past 5 years.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Become a childminder or nanny (England), archived copy of 14 Aug 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- ByteStart: self-employed can now get Enhanced DBS checks without an employer (22 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.