Launch & Career
From first thoughts to registration visit. Everything you need.
How to Become a Childminder
The ultimate step-by-step roadmap to registration and training in 2026.
Registration Roadmap
Your step-by-step statutory roadmap to becoming a registered childminder.
Startup Costs Guide
Understand the initial investment needed for equipment and training.
Become a Childminder: 2026 Guide
The definitive step-by-step roadmap to Ofsted registration in 2026.
Non-Domestic Premises Guide
Statutory requirements for registering childminding without domestic premises.
Registration Accelerator
The comprehensive hub for starting your business, from DBS to Health Forms.
Business Plan
Professional template to secure funding and launch your vision.
Questions for Parents
The ultimate checklist of what to ask during your first meeting.
Garden Room Guide
Advice for childminders planning to work from a garden studio.
Hiring an Assistant
Ready to scale? Learn about ratios, PAYE, and contracts for staff.
Switch from Agency
Step-by-step guide to transitioning from a childminder agency to independent Ofsted registration.
App Selection Framework
The definitive 2026 checklist for choosing childminder software that meets MTD and EYFS mandates.
Choosing a childminding app
A plain checklist to take to any childminding app you are thinking about.
Moving from another app
On any paid plan, we move your records across for you, free.
Expert Insights
Expert analysis on the latest regulatory changes.
How to Become a Childminder in the UK (2026): Registration Steps and Ofsted Readiness
How to become a childminder in the UK in 2026: who must register, what Ofsted requires, ratios, the step-by-step route and how to prepare for your first inspection.
Development Matters and the 2026 EYFS: The Childminder's Guide
There is no Development Matters 2026. The current edition dates from September 2023; what changed on 1 September 2026 is the EYFS statutory framework. How the 7 areas of learning apply to childminders and how to track progress digitally.
Childminder Invoice Software UK: Simplify Bookkeeping and Meet MTD Requirements (2026)
The definitive 2026 guide to childminder invoice software in the UK. Compare MTD-compliant options, understand HMRC digital-link requirements, and discover how KinderStart automates funded-hours invoicing.
Getting Started as a Childminder in 2026: EYFS Statutory Guidance & Best Practices
Master the September 2026 EYFS statutory guidance for childminders in England. Learn mandatory safer sleep rules, assistant sole-charge caps, banned dog breed laws, ratios, and legal registrations.
Compliance & Safeguarding
Master the EYFS Framework and stay compliant.
Ofsted Requirements
Master the EYFS Statutory Framework, including ratios and safeguarding.
EYFS Statutory Framework 2026
Free PDF downloads plus what the 2026 Statutory Framework and Development Matters mean for childminders.
Ratio Checker
Interactive tool to check if your ratios meet EYFS mandates.
Mock Inspection Simulator
Practise your inspection answers with our adaptive AI inspector.
Safer Eating Guide
Vital information on choking hazards and preparation requirements.
Household DBS
Do your family members need a check? A complete guide.
Food Registration
How to register as a food business. Mandatory for all settings.
Ofsted Ratios & Space Guide
Staff:child ratios, 'Rising Fives,' and how to calculate your home's floor space capacity.
Ratios Explained (2026 Guide)
EYFS ratio rules, capacity limits, and how hiring assistants can help you scale.
Safeguarding Documentation
Why accident records must be kept for 21 years and how to use digital body maps.
Contracts & Policies Guide
Navigate CMA compliance, funding rules, and the 21-year data retention rule.
Free Forms & Templates
Download professional, Ofsted-compliant PDF templates for Invoices, Diaries, and Accidents.
Printables
Painted EYFS, Curriculum for Excellence and Curriculum for Wales trackers to print, with low-ink versions.
Free 2026 Policy Templates
Download the "Mandatory 6" policies every childminder needs, updated for EYFS 2025/2026 statutory changes.
EYFS Progress Check Guide
Complete guide to writing the statutory 2-Year Progress Check with professional examples and templates.
All About Me Template
EYFS-compliant settling-in form to capture child starting points.
Assistant Hiring Checklist
Statutory safer recruitment steps for hiring assistants in 2026.
Hiring an Assistant
The complete guide to scaling your business with staff.
Money & Tax
Maximise your earnings with expert tax guides.
Funding Calculator
Calculate earnings when mixing funded hours with private fees.
Invoicing Funded Hours
The complete guide to the 2026 itemisation mandate, stretched funding, and compliant invoices.
Invoicing & Tax Software
Master invoicing, funding tracking, and tax software compliance for the 2026 mandates.
Stretched Funding Calculator
Free calculator and guide: stretch 15/30 hours over 48-52 weeks with compliance tips and legal guidance.
Stretched Funding Guide
The exact formula for stretching 15 and 30 hours funding over 51 weeks.
MTD Roadmap 2026
£50k/£30k thresholds, quarterly deadlines, and simplified expenses withdrawal.
Accountant Specialist Guide
Learn why specialist knowledge of BIM52751 and MTD is vital for your setting.
MTD Software Guide
The definitive guide to HMRC-compatible software for the 2026 mandate.
MTD Compliance Guide
HMRC rules for digital record keeping and quarterly reporting in 2026.
Expenses Guide
Allowable business expenses for childminders to save on tax.
Ultimate Expenses Checklist
Stop overpaying tax. The A-Z checklist of everything you can claim in 2026.
Consumables & Invoicing
Expert guide on the 2026 itemisation mandate for funded hours.
Tax Return Guide
Simplifying Self Assessment. Deadlines and how to file online.
Consumables Guide
How to fairly charge for food and trips without breaking rules.
Attendance Log
Keep digital registers and track each child's hours.
Agency vs Ofsted
Agency commission and fees compared with registering directly with Ofsted.
Regional Support
Localised guidance, rate benchmarking, and community hubs.
Lancashire Guide
A specialised resource for independent childminders in Preston, Blackburn, Bolton, Blackpool, and across Lancashire.
London Guide
The professional guide for childminders across London Boroughs, from Camden and Hackney to Southwark and Greenwich.
Greater Manchester Guide
Essential resources for childminders in Manchester, Salford, Stockport, and the wider city region.
Yorkshire Guide
Supporting the childminding community in Leeds, Sheffield, York, and rural Yorkshire.
