What is a childminder?
A Childminder cares for a small group of children of mixed ages in the childminder’s own home. Children are welcomed as individuals, they are offered affection and respect and their developmental and recreational needs are met. Childminders offer a flexible service, tailored to each child, thereby helping parents and guardians to balance their work and family commitments. A Childminder negotiates and agrees her/his terms with parents. The child’s welfare must be the prime consideration of the Childminder. Childminders have sole responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of each child entrusted to their care.
Are you thinking of becoming a childminder? If so please see resources below
A Guide to becoming a Childminder
Information for Childminders on the National Action Plan for Childminding
Guidelines on Planning a Childminding Business in your own home
Childminding Sample Policies and Procedures
Childminding Sample Record Keeping Forms
Information for Parents on the National Childminding Action Plan
Guidance for Childminders: https://www.laoischildcare.ie/2022/02/16/guidance-for-childminders-understanding-childrens-behaviour/
Learner Fund Childminder Bursary 2025 – Closed – will reopen in 2026
In 2025, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality will open the Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders who are registered with Tusla and have recently graduated with either a Level 5, or 6 award in early childhood care and education on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or Level 7 or 8 on the Qualifications Advisory Board (QAB) ELC list of approved courses for the academic years 2024 or 2025.
Local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process Learner Fund Childminder Bursary applications, before appraisal from DCDE.
Particular attention is drawn to the Rules below, which align the Learner Fund eligibility and selection criteria in line with those of the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund and ensures equity in assessment of application in both schemes.
CMDG 2025 is now Closed! – Application for 2026 will be issued here next year
The Childminding Development Grant (CMDG) is a small capital grant designed to assist existing and potential childminders to enhance safety and quality in their childminding service.
The CMDG is open to any childminder who singlehandedly cares for non-relative child/ren in the childminder’s own home. Potential childminders can apply for the grant if they intend to commence childminding in their own home by 1 September 2025. Those who care for children in the child’s home (nannies/au pairs) or parents who employ a person to mind their children at their home are not eligible to apply. Those who care only for close relatives are also not eligible to apply.
For more information please see CMDG FAQ’s
Pre-Registration Training
CALLING ALL CHILDMINDERS
Are you a childminder or interested in becoming a childminder in Co. Laois
Would you like to get involved in a local Childminding Network that will provide a forum for peer support, sharing experiences and knowledge and access to relevant information on the National Childminding Action Plan (2021-2028) and much more…
Training for Childminders
Please find links below to contacts and resources for training.
- Quality and Regulatory Framework eLearning Programme: https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-quality-and-regulatory-framework/quality-and-regulatory-framework-elearning-programme/
- Children First Training: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/
- Training Courses from Childminding Ireland https://www.childminding.ie/cmi-training-courses/
- Child in Mind Training Programme https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/child-mind-training-programme-now-live/
Download the Childminder Newsletter here: NAPC Spring Newsletter 2024 Final
Latest news, information and upcoming events for Childminders
National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, launched the National Action Plan for Childminding on 15th April 2021. The National Action Plan aims to improve access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding, and sets out a phased approach to bringing childminders within the scope of State-funded supports and regulation over the period 2021-2028.
The National Action Plan for Childminding is a pathway to be developed over the next 8 years that sets out steps towards regulation, support and subsidies, for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and significant benefits for childminders, children and the families using their services.
The aim of the Action Plan is to provide greater recognition for childminding and to support childminders in their work of providing high quality early learning and care and school age childcare, thus supporting child development and learning outcomes and helping families.
To download a copy of the Action plan please click here: National Action Plan for Childminding
View the Pathway for the Action plan here: Pathway of the Action Plan
For More information on the National Action Plan for Childminding please visit https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/df207-national-action-plan-for-childminding-2021-2028/
