Childminders

Child Day Care for Children under the age of 8

The Registration and Inspection Unit (R & I Unit) regulate day care facilities for children under the age of 8 years, under the Regulation of Care Act 2013.

There is information on the Department of Health and Social Care website regarding:

• public lists of registered childminders, nurseries, playgroups and crèches;
• information for parents regarding choosing a childminder;
• inspection reports;
• how to become a registered childminder;
• setting up a Child Day Care service;
• advice regarding any of the above.

What is a childminder?

Under the Regulation of Care Act 2013 a childminder is a person who looks after one or more children under the age of 8 years, for more than a total of 2 hours a day on domestic premises (other than the child’s own home) for reward under the Regulation of Care Act 2013.  Any person acting as a childminder will need to be registered with the Department’s R & I Unit (parents and relatives are exempt).

Under the Regulation of Care Act 2013 if you act as a childminder without being registered, it could lead to prosecution.

What is a Child Day Care?

Child day care is provided at any time for children under the age of 8 on premises other than domestic premises, where the period in any one day exceeds 2 hours.  Child day care is provided into the following 4 types:

Full Day Care

Child day care for children under 8 for a continuous period of 4 hours or more in any day.

Sessional Day Care

Child day care for children under 8 that are less than a continuous period of 4 hours in any day.

Crèches 

Crèches provide occasional care for children under 8 for more than 5 days a year.  They need to be registered where they provide a service for a total of more than 2 hours a day; even when individual children attend for a shorter period.

Out of school care

Including drop-in play provision and special interest activity clubs.  Under the Regulation of Care Act 2013 anyone who wishes to provide a child day care facility for children under the age of 8, for more than 2 hours in any day and for 6 days or more in any year will be required to register with the Department.

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