A childminder maintains a household as well as operating a home-based business.
To think about how ready you are to start childminding, ask yourself the following questions:
It is the number of minded children at any one time that counts. You could be minding different children at different times.
Definitions
Under the Child Care Act 1991
If you are registered with Tusla as a pre-school childminder, you can mind:
If you are registered with Tusla as a school age childminder, you may mind up to 6 children under local planning regulations, or up to 12 children with change of use planning permission.
If you are not registered with Tusla, you can mind:
If you mind no more than 3 children under the age of 18 at any one time, you may avail of the Childcare Services Tax Relief Scheme.
Under local planning regulations
A childminding service is defined ashaving 6 or fewer children in the home at one time by local authorities and is considered exempted development.
However, if you mind or intend to mind 7 or more children of any age, including your own, you must get change of use planning permission from your local council. This is due to traffic, water, and sewage considerations, and you may be liable for water rates as a business.
Local councils may allow tenants to mind up to 6 children at a time, including their own children once the service is registered
with Tusla.
Private renters must get permission from the landlord/owner to mind children in a rented accommodation.
In either case, you should make sure that you have appropriate insurance to cover the service.
Garda vetting is best practice for all childminders. Anyone who has access to children should be vetted the National Vetting Bureau, according
to the law. It is a legal requirement for Tusla registered childminders, and it is recommended as best practice for all childminders. Childminders should contact Barnardos Vetting Service in Cork for further information. This is a free service.
Phone: 021 454 7060 Email: vetting@barnardos.ie
It may take up to 2-3 weeks to receive the results of your vetting.
Child Safeguarding and childminders
Tusla registered childminders are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015, with legal responsibility to report harm of children to Tusla and assist where requested.
All childminders have a duty of care to report child protection concerns to Tusla under the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017.
Where possible, Childminders are advised to attend in-person Always Children First Child Safeguarding Awareness Training.
For more information check: Child Safeguarding
In addition to Child Safeguarding Awareness training, Childminders are advised to complete Paediatric First Aid and the Children First E-Learning Programme as soon as possible.
Business training for childminders is also recommended. Business Bytes covers marketing, setting fees, parent contracts and registration with
Revenue.
New customised training is under development for childminders in order to register with Tusla under the upcoming regulations for childminding in
the National Action Plan for Childminding.
Any training and workshops can increase your understanding in child development, enhance your work with children and develop your business
practice as a home-based childminder. It can also increase your confidence and improve your services to children and their families.
Join Childminder Connect for regular updates on training and information sessions.
We run a variety of information and training sessions throughout the year to support you in quality childminding and business for childminders. These practical sessions also offer great opportunities to learn from other childminders.
All upcoming events are advertised on our DCCC Eventbrite page.
See our Training and Events below:
As a professional childminder, at is highly recommended to have a written parent contract in place for your service, along with a child record form. See sample record keeping forms from the national team of Childminding Development Officers.
Other recommended policies include:
See sample policies and procedures by the national team.
It is highly advisable to get childminding insurance for your home and for your car, if you use it to transport minded children.
Childminders must register with Revenue as a self-employed sole trader, and then file an income tax return annually, along with payment of income tax, Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) and Universal Social Charge (USC).
Childminders earning €15,000 or less a year may avail of the Childcare Services Tax Relief Scheme, pay no income tax or USC and the minimum €500 per annum onPRSI.
Come to our business training for childminders for all the details. Join Childminder Connect for regular updates on training and information sessions.