homebased childcare

[skyscott25]

I live in a 2 bed flat and dont drive as yet HOPEFULLY WILL BE BY SUMMER but i live in walking distance from shops schools and parks & im moving to a bigger place with a garden in 9 months )

can i apply to be a homebased childminder or should i wait im not sure how long the process takes?

[chelle7272]

I understand that if you register for childminding based at your home, a risk assessment will have to be carried out on your home. So if you are moving it may be best to do it nearer the time you are moving?

[saxy_jag]

You need to contact your local council's social services department, who will put you in touch with the section that supports and advises childminders. They will tell you how long the process takes and whether it's worth applying now.

As part of the registration process, your home will be assessed in terms of safety and will be addressed at subsequent inspections.

The inspection/assessment process will not penalise you just because you live in a flat. As long as it's safe and you can provide suitable care, that's what they'll be looking for. And for what it's worth, my son's (now 25) first childminder was a single parent in a two-bedroomed council flat and I had no worries whatsoever.

[tigwig]

I have just registered and the whole process has taken me 4 months.
You have to do a 4 day course first spread out over 4 weeks then do all your policies and paperwork etc which takes a while.
It was about a month before I got my registration that Ofsted came out to check my house so you could start the ball rolling on your training and wait until you are in your new house before Ofsted are involved.