For instance, people who want to run a day nursery are generally expected to have a qualification in child care or a similar field such as nursery education. Some local authorities offer pre-registration briefing sessions, perhaps for people who want to be childminders. These offer an opportunity for you to discuss with others what is involved in running a day care service or being a childminder. Your local authority may suggest that you would find it useful to have some training on a particular subject like first aid, but they cannot insist that you attend a training course before you can be registered. Once you are registered, you may want information about refresher courses in your area, so that you can update your skills and offer an even better service for the children and their parents.
Many people are eager to put their years of experience with children to good use.
You should tell the local authority all about your relevant experience. This will help them to decide about your application for registration. The registration officer, who works for the local authority, will visit your home to check that it is safe and welcoming for children aged under eight. Parents who use a childminder will expect good standards of safety, but not over and above the standard in their own home. The registration officer's visit is an important part of registration.