Guidance

Additional actions for childminders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Updated 24 February 2022

This guidance was withdrawn on

This guidance is no longer applicable.

Applies to England

Main changes to the previous guidance

On 24 February 2022, we updated the guidance to remove advice on:

  • close contacts
  • reporting COVID-19 cases to Ofsted

Who this guidance is for

This guidance is for all childminders registered with Ofsted or a childminding agency.

It contains information on childminding when:

  • someone who lives with you has symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive
  • you should not childmind in your home and you wish to consider alternative options to continue to childmind

This guidance also applies to childminders who work at a registered domestic premises that is not their home and the person with a positive test or COVID-19 symptoms is living at the address the childminder is registered.

‘Domestic premises’ refers to any premises which are used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling.

When someone who lives with you has COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive

You should not childmind in your home when someone living there has:

  • any of the main symptoms of COVID-19
  • a positive test

You should not childmind children in your home until everyone living with you who has symptoms, or a positive test result, is no longer advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

You should follow the guidance in COVID-19: people with COVID-19 and their contacts.

Alternative childminding options when you should not childmind at home

You may wish to consider the following options to continue childminding, as long as you have not tested positive yourself and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, and you:

You should also consider further guidance in COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings outside the home.

Another registered domestic premises

If you want to work from another registered domestic premises such as another childminder’s home, you should tell Ofsted or let your Childminder Agency (CMA) know before you start. ‘Domestic premises’ refers to any premises which are used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling.

To notify Ofsted, please contact enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk from an email address that is known to them. You should also notify Ofsted or your CMA if you intend to care for a child at the child’s own home.

You do not need to wait for an updated certificate to start working, but you must be able to demonstrate to parents or carers that you are:

  • registered with Ofsted
  • awaiting a new certificate

More information about childminder registration is available in Ofsted’s registration.

Unregistered domestic premises

If you want to work from another domestic premises which is not already registered, such as a relative’s home, you should tell Ofsted or let your CMA know before you start.

To notify Ofsted, please contact enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk from an email address that is known to them. You should also notify Ofsted or your CMA if you intend to care for a child at the child’s own home.

This should only be considered if a longer-term option is required as any new people aged 16 or over who live and work on the premises where childminding will take place will have to be suitability checked. This includes the requirement to apply for a DBS certificate for each new person and at cost to the childminder.

You can tell Ofsted about new people using their online service. If you are registered with a CMA, contact them for more information.

Non-domestic premises

You can childmind from non-domestic premises for up to 50% of your time.

If you are registered with Ofsted, you must complete an application form and be approved before starting. If you are registered with a CMA, contact them for more information.

Public places

You can continue to childmind if, for example, you were to collect children from school and take them to their parent or carer without taking them into your home. This could include an activity along the way, such as a visit to the park.

Outbuildings and gardens

If you are one of the very small number of childminders who have a suitable outbuilding or extension and garden within the boundary of your registered address, you may be able to childmind if you meet all the following requirements:

  • the outbuilding or extension:

    • has its own entrance/exit and you do not have to enter your home to access it
    • does not have direct access to the main house
    • is not being used by the person who has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms
  • you can continue to deliver the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage framework including:
    • the environment being safe and suitable for the children and does not compromise safeguarding, their welfare or their individual needs
    • there is access to a toilet and washing facilities and (where appropriate) adequate sleeping facilities - all of which are separate to those being used by the person who has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms
  • you discuss your arrangements with Ofsted before you start
  • you follow the additional actions to take when someone you live with has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms

You should also consider further guidance in COVID-19: cleaning in non-healthcare settings outside the home.

Additional actions to take when someone you live with has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms

This section should not be read in isolation to the rest of this guidance.

Communication

You should make every effort to notify parents and carers of the children attending the setting, and any assistants, about the person who has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms, as soon as reasonably possible and maintain open communication with them throughout.

Risk assessments

You must comply with health and safety law by reviewing your risk assessment. The risk assessment must demonstrate:

Further guidance is available in:

Monitoring

You should have arrangements in place to monitor whether the measures you have put in place are:

  • effective
  • working as planned
  • reviewed frequently
  • updated appropriately, for example when any issues are identified, or when there are changes in public health advice