The childminder EYFS framework: what's different from nurseries

Since 4 January 2024, childminders in England have had their own EYFS statutory framework, separate from the one for nurseries, pre-schools and schools. The learning and development requirements are the same. The welfare rules are written for one person working with a small team: up to six children under eight per adult, no more than three of them young children, no minimum qualification level, and no need for written policies if you are only on the Early Years Register. The current version took effect on 1 September 2026.

This guide covers England only. Paragraph numbers are from the childminder framework effective 1 September 2026 unless stated.

Who counts as a childminder?

A childminder is registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency and works alone or with up to three other people, so four in total. Since 1 November 2024 there are two kinds:

• Childminder with domestic premises. At least some of your childminding happens in a home, usually yours.
• Childminder without domestic premises. All of it happens somewhere that is not a home, such as a church or village hall.

If five or more people work together on domestic premises, that is “childcare on domestic premises”. It follows the group and school-based framework, not this one.

What’s different from the group framework?

	Childminder framework	Group and school-based framework
Ratios	Up to 6 children under 8 per adult; of those, no more than 3 young children and normally only 1 under one (3.50–3.51)	Under 2s 1:3; two-year-olds 1:5; three and over 1:8, or 1:13 while someone with QTS, EYTS or EYPS works directly with the children (3.48–3.51)
Qualifications	No minimum level in the framework. You need a paediatric first aid certificate to register (3.42)	Manager at level 3 or above; at least half of other staff at level 2 (3.45)
Key person	You, or an assistant where appropriate (3.46)	A named member of staff (3.42)
Designated safeguarding lead	You (3.34)	A designated practitioner (3.4)
Written policies	Not required if you are only on the Early Years Register or with an early years agency, but you must be able to explain them (3.6)	Policies should be recorded in writing (3.5)
Complaints	Keep a record of complaints and outcomes; no written procedure required (3.100)	Written procedure and written record required (3.101)
SENCO	Encouraged to identify one; can be shared across an agency or network (3.76)	Expected in group provision (3.77)
Suitability checks on the team	Ofsted or your agency clears assistants (3.14)	The provider obtains DBS and barred list checks, except childcare on domestic premises (3.15)
Staff left alone with children	Assistants for up to 2 hours a day, with parents’ permission (3.55)	Set by ratios and qualifications
Registration certificate	Can be displayed digitally, for example on your website (3.103)	Must be displayed at the setting (3.104)
Indoor space	3.5m² under 2s, 2.5m² two-year-olds, 2.3m² three to five (3.82)	The same (3.83)
Typical inspection length	Around 3 hours	Around 4 hours for sessional settings, around 6 for full day care

The learning and development requirements, the progress check at age two, safer eating, safe sleep, accident and medicine records, and the duty to tell parents the same day about accidents and medicines are in substance the same in both frameworks.

Ratios for childminders

The ratio covers everyone under eight you care for, including your own children and any you foster (3.50). Of those six:

• no more than three may be young children, meaning up to 31 August after their fifth birthday
• there should normally be only one child under one

The limit applies to the whole provision, not room by room (3.49).

You can go above three young children if you can show parents and Ofsted or your agency that every child’s needs are met. Examples in the framework are siblings, your own child, continuity of care, and reception-age children who only come before or after school or in the holidays (3.53). The overall cap of six under-eights per adult never moves.

For ratio calculations as a whole, see staff:child ratios in England.

Working with assistants

An assistant is anyone who helps you care for children who are not related to them, paid or unpaid, including students, volunteers and apprentices.

• Suitability. Assistants must be cleared as suitable by Ofsted or your agency before they work (3.14). You must also get at least one written reference before they start (3.21).
• Each adult has their own ratio. If you employ an assistant or work with another childminder, each of you may care for the number the ratios allow, subject to any conditions on your registration (3.54).
• Age. No one under 17 counts in ratios, except apprentices from 16 (3.57).
• Alone with children. Up to two hours in a single day, with parents’ permission even for short periods (3.55).
• Your responsibilities. Induction training covering evacuation, safeguarding, child protection and health and safety (3.39), supervision (3.40), safeguarding training to the Annex C criteria (3.35), and whistleblowing procedures they know about (3.8).
• Tell Ofsted or your agency about any change to the people caring for children, within 14 days and in advance where you can (3.104–3.105).

Can childminders work from non-domestic premises?

Yes, in two ways. The rules changed on 1 November 2024.

Adding non-domestic premises to a domestic registration. You apply to Ofsted using the EYA form and wait for approval before working there. There is no extra fee. Working there without approval is an offence. You must still spend some of your time at your registered home. The old rule that at least half of your childminding had to be in a home was removed in November 2024, so you can split your time by the hour, day, week or month.

Registering as a childminder without domestic premises. You work only from non-domestic premises and cannot use any home at any time, even for drop-off or collection. You must tell parents this (3.99). The same childminder framework applies.

Either way, tell Ofsted or your agency within 14 days of a change of premises address or any change that affects the space available to children, and get approval before operating from new non-domestic premises (3.104).

Ofsted or a childminder agency?

You can register with Ofsted directly or with a childminder agency. Both must hold you to the same EYFS.

	Ofsted-registered	Agency-registered
Who checks quality	Ofsted inspection, graded	The agency’s quality assurance visits, at least one a year and unannounced
Report	Published report card	Written report from the agency, shared with you and your parents
Grading	Ofsted’s grades	Decided by the agency
Other support	None built in	May include training, finding families and admin, for a fee the agency sets

Ofsted inspects the agencies themselves and may visit a sample of their childminders as part of that, without grading them individually. You can leave an agency and register elsewhere, except while it is taking action to cancel or suspend your registration.

What changed for childminders in 2025 and 2026?

From 1 September 2025, the DfE safeguarding reforms applied to childminders:

• at least one written reference for any assistant before they start (3.21)
• following up absences promptly, and holding, where possible, more than two emergency contact numbers for every child (3.12, 3.98)
• the childminder named as designated safeguarding lead, with training meeting the new Annex C criteria and renewed every two years (3.34–3.36)
• new safer eating requirements, and a duty to have regard to the EYFS nutrition guidance (3.62–3.64)
• privacy in nappy changing and toileting to be balanced with safeguarding

From 1 September 2026, the latest version added:

• much more specific safe sleep rules, including that babies aged 12 months and under must sleep in a cot (3.86); see safe sleep at nursery
• a duty to have regard to DfE guidance on children’s screen use (3.93)
• a ban on dogs of a banned breed, including XL Bully types, being kept or present on the premises at any time, even with an exemption certificate (3.81). If you childmind at home, this applies to your own dog.

For the wider changes, see what changed in the EYFS.

How are childminders inspected?

Ofsted’s renewed inspections started on 10 November 2025, using the same toolkit and grades as for nurseries, applied to your context. The differences in practice:

• Timing. The inspector calls no more than five working days before to check which days you work and that children will be there. Group settings get a call the working day before.
• Length. Around three hours.
• No nominee. You deal with the inspector directly, and not having anyone else to bring to meetings does not count against you.
• DBS checks. Inspectors do not need to see DBS checks for you, your assistants or household members, because Ofsted saw them at registration.
• Parents. Inspectors may phone parents for their views.

Settings on the Early Years Register are moving to inspection at least once in a four-year window. This started in April 2026 and is due to be fully in place by March 2030. New registrations are normally inspected within 18 months. See how Ofsted inspects early years.