Childminder
A registered professional who looks after a small group of children, usually in their own home
By The Toddly editorial team · Last updated 11 November 2026
Childminders are registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency and follow the same EYFS as nurseries. A childminder can usually care for up to six children under 8, of whom no more than three are under 5 and normally only one under 1, including their own children, with assistants allowing more. Many offer flexible hours, a home setting and siblings cared for together, and many accept funded hours. Ofsted inspects them and publishes reports. Compare the options in our guide to nursery vs childminder vs nanny.