Setting up a childcare business

This section of the site provides information about all manner of resources available to you in starting and running a business that works with children.

There is advice on how to market your childcare service, the best methods and things to take into consideration when recruiting new staff, and advice on how to make your business succeed.

Self employed people working in early years and childcare may wish to refer to HMRC for email updates, videos and webinars for Self Assessment tax resources.

Learn more about the Childminder grants scheme. These grants will be available from Autumn 2023 for childminders registered from 15 March 2023 onwards. 

Childminder vacancies

If you are an Ofsted-registered childminder, and you are already in our directory, you can update your directory record. 

If you've given permission for your details to be shown online, this will aid parents searching for childcare to find your vacancies.

View our directory of support services.

Ofsted registration exemption form

Most childcare providers caring for children aged under eight must register with Ofsted unless the law says that they are not required to do so.

You only need to complete the exemption form if your provision meets the criteria number 16 in the ‘registration not required’ childcare factsheet.