Information for people who are interested in becoming a professional Ofsted registered childminder in North Lincolnshire. The courses are also useful for practitioners in nurseries, pre-schools and reception class.
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Careers working with early years children
Childminder briefing sessions
“I have been child-minding for 20 years. Its more than just a job, it’s a privilege to be able to be part of shaping a child’s life and helping them reach their full potential”. Quote from a North Lincolnshire Childminder
If you are interested in becoming an Ofsted registered childminder and providing high quality early years education and childcare, either from your own home or from a suitable and approved non-domestic premises, you can attend one of our childminder briefing sessions.
Non-domestic premises could be: a church hall, a school, a village hall, a community centre, or an office building. The option to be able to childmind from an approved non-domestic premises, may be of interest to those who have covenants or restrictions on their property or who are in rented accommodation with rental agreement prohibiting operating a business from their home, or for those who have limited space in their home.
Childminder Briefings are free to attend and are delivered online via MS Teams for a period of two hours, 6pm to 8pm. These are the ideal starting point if you are considering becoming a registered childminder.
The next childminder briefing will be held on:
- Wednesday 22 April 2026 – 6pm to 8pm
- Wednesday 6 May 2026 – 6pm to 8pm
Interested applicants need only attend ONE Childminder Briefing
The briefing is stage 1 of the support that we offer. It outlines the statutory requirements that a childminder has to meet as well as explaining the Ofsted registration process.
You will need to register with Ofsted (or a childminding agency) if you wish to:
- care for children from birth to seven years
- for more than two hours in any one day
- and for reward
The briefing will help you to make an informed decision as to whether providing early years education and childcare either from your home or an approved non-domestic premises, is for you. Sessions are held throughout the year and future dates are promoted on our council Facebook page and Early Years training Twitter page.
Following the briefing session (if you decide you wish to become a professional Ofsted registered childminder working with children aged birth to five years) we offer initial training in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The full “introduction to working within the EYFS” course provides this training and support. In addition this training offered by North Lincolnshire Council also meets the requirements for the Childcare Registers, for those potential childminders wishing to provide before and after school care for children in year one and above. If you are planning to register with Ofsted as a childminder offering before and after school care as well as supporting early years children, then this course, ‘Introduction to Working Within the EYFS’ is available FREE of charge.
When asked to share their thoughts about being a childminder, a local North Lincolnshire Childminder said:
- “It can be flexible to meet the needs of my own family. We can provide real life experiences for children that involve children in wider events like visits to parks, shops, fire station, schools etc. It gives us flexibility to join the community and local area and share it with the children.”
- “I can be my own boss and make my own decisions.”
- “I enjoy my job and can’t see myself doing anything else.”
If you would like more information about becoming a childminder email earlyyearsteam@northlincs.gov.uk
Further information
Initial training for childminders
For those wishing to apply to become a professional Ofsted registered childminder working with children in the early years age range (birth to five years) we offer initial training in the EYFS to help you prepare and develop your knowledge and understanding of the EYFS ready for your Ofsted registration interview visit. The training offered by North Lincolnshire Council also meets the requirements for the Childcare Registers, for those potential childminders wishing to provide before and after school care for children in year one and above.
If you are an existing childminder thinking of recruiting an assistant, then this programme would be an ideal learning and development opportunity for your new assistant.
This course is also ideal for practitioners who are new to working in an early years provision, such as:
- day nursery
- pre-school
- school nursery
- reception class
It is useful for practitioners who do not have formal early years training or would like a refresher of the current EYFS requirements.
What the course covers
The programme covers topics including:
- overview of the EYFS
- safeguarding awareness
- overview of the learning, and development and assessment requirements of the EYFS
- equality, inclusion and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- introduction to emotional development, and communication and language, and children’s behaviour in the early years.
Potential childminders will also learn about the HMRC requirements for running a business and EYFS documentation.
The course is held as evening sessions, on-line via MS Teams.
Dates and times for the next course are as follows:
- Tuesday 12 May 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Wednesday 13 May 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Tuesday 19 May 2026, 6pm-9pm
- Wednesday 20 May 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
HALF TERM NO SESSIONS THIS WEEK - Tuesday 2 June 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- Tuesday 9 June 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
- WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE 2026 NO SESSION
- Tuesday 16 June 2026, 6.30pm-8.30pm
How will this course help me?
Doing this programme will:
- support you to understand the legal requirements of the EYFS and how to implement them.
- expand your knowledge of how children develop and learn and what you can do to enable them to make progress in their learning and development.
- ensure you are aware of the procedures you would need to follow if you had a safeguarding concern about a child.
- raise your awareness of the support available and how you can access it to help you meet the needs of all the children in your care.
- increase your confidence in your knowledge and understanding of the EYFS so that you are prepared for your Ofsted Registration Interview.
Support provided
In addition to the training programme content, support is also provided by locality childminders who are designated, experienced childminders in each area of North Lincolnshire. They can provide practical support and development opportunities. These include experience of a stay and play session at a children’s centre and a visit to a childminding business. If you decide that you wish to become an Ofsted registered childminder, we will provide one to one guidance and advice in your home and on-line, both during and after the training programme to support you to prepare for your Ofsted registration interview visit covering a range of topics such as: safer recruitment and risk assessment in your home environment or another non-domestic premises that you are considering operating from. Once Ofsted registered ongoing support is provided to help you to further develop your early years education and childcare.
The course also provides you with the opportunity to meet and interact with tutors who are members of the early years, providing specialised support for all early years providers.
There are no exams. However, learners are requested to complete on-line training resources, and provide feedback on the sessions and will receive a certificate at the end.
Costs
The full course costs £145 but sessions can also be purchased individually. For example if you already have relevant early years or childcare qualifications.
If you are planning to register with Ofsted as a childminder offering before and after school care as well as supporting early years children, then this course, ‘Introduction to Working Within the EYFS’ is available FREE of charge.
For more information please email earlyyearsteam@northlincs.gov.uk or call the team on 01724 297000.
The early years service page on the Services for Education website has lots of information for professionals, including links to relevant training and CPD opportunities.
Further CPD opportunities to support your career pathway are also available from the early years team. These include:
- communication and language development
- infant mental health
- NHS Solihull Approach training
- introduction to the role of the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
- moderation
- termly networking meetings
Details of programmes are regularly emailed out to early years providers. In addition, our early years development officers visit and work in partnership with all early years providers. They provide support, advice and guidance on how to develop their provision.
For further details please contact us on earlyyearsteam@northlincs.gov.uk
Our adult and community learning team also provide a range of continued professional development (CPD) opportunities.
The setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five framework sets of the legal requirements for all early years providers and schools in England.
The North Lincolnshire early years team work throughout the local area. We offer support, advice and guidance on all aspects of the EYFS to Ofsted registered providers. These include schools, nurseries, pre-schools, childminders and out of school clubs. We work closely with colleagues in the council and with community groups and individuals.
For more information or to request support from the early years team please do not hesitate to contact us on 01724 297000.
Our Family Information Service (FIS) page has lots of free, impartial information and advice for families in North Lincolnshire.
Our Local Offer website includes information for parents and carers with children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
See the childminder page on Gov.UK for information on becoming a childminder or nanny.
The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years has information about early years childcare training and qualifications.
Our Early Years Service page on the Services for Education website has a wide range of information for professionals.
The Local Offer website has lots of information for professionals on special educational needs and disability.