Childminding
is the largest sub-sector within childcare in Ireland,
and is generally undertaken by self-employed people
in their own homes. Childminding is legislated for by
the Childcare Act 1991, which is interpreted by the
Childcare (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006.
Over 73,000 families with pre-school children rely
on childcare providers to enable them to work. It is
estimated that up to 70% of children minded in this
way are minded by a Childminder. The National Childcare
Strategy estimated that there are 37,900 Childminders
in Ireland.
Childminding is the traditional model of day-care in
Ireland. For decades this method has ensured the economic
survival of two families. Research shows children benefit
from the small group family setting, with continuity
of care from one person - often from infancy through
to starting secondary school. Like most families, the
minded children vary in age which promotes empathy rather
than competition for attention. A family home, with
regular outings, provides children with opportunity
to experience the world in a real way. They get to know
their locality and interact there with the local community
with positive outcomes in the teenage years. They can
develop lasting friendships with the Childminding family
and other minded children.
Parents benefit from flexibility and an individually
tailored childcare arrangement which will change over
time as the child grows. Childminding offers the opportunity
for close communication with the person who has sole
responsibility for the child during the Childminding
hours.
Childminders
benefit by being self-employed as they can use their
own homes to provide a service, earn an income and still
care for their own children. By making annual paymnets
to RSI under Class S, they can avail of certain State
benefits, principally the Contributory Pension entitlement.
Childminders can earn up to €15,000 exempt from
tax under the Childminders Tax Relief Scheme.
Legislation
- Childminding in Ireland
is governed by the Childcare (1991) Act and the Pre-School
Regulations (2006). Childminding is regulated only
where four or more children under the age of six are
minded.
- A single handed Childminder
can mind up to five children under the age of six.
- A Childminder can
mind no more than two children under 15 months (except
in the case of siblings).
- Childminders must
notify their local Health Service Executive if they
mind four or more children (excluding their own) under
the age of six.
- Childminders who
are not required to notify, may voluntarily
notify to their County Childcare Committee to
avail of tax
allowances, grants and training.
- There is no regulation
at present of school age (6+) childcare services,
although the Report "School
Aged Childcare in Ireland" published by the
National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee recommends
a ratio of one adult for eight children.
For
the Pre-School Regulations (2006) click here
Grants
A Childminder's Development
Grant of up to €1000 is available to Childminders
to assist towards the cost of safety items, books, toys
or equipment enabling the delivery of a safer, stimulating
environment for the children you mind. Grants are available
to insured Childminders who mind at least one child
and who either attend a ten hour, no-cost Quality
Awareness Programme or are voluntarily notified.
Please note that Voluntary Notification is not a requirement
for eligibility. Details and application forms are available
from your local County Childcare Committee.
Frequently
Asked Questions
If
you're unable to find the answers you need on this website,
email your question to info@childminding.ie
and we'll do our best to help you.
Childminders
How
do I join Childminding Ireland?
Will
my household insurance cover me for Childminding?
How
many children can I mind?
Does
a Childminder require any particular training?
Should
I be paying tax?
Should
I be paid for holidays?
I've heard about a grant for Childminders,
what is it, and how do I apply?
I am a Childminder do I need to have policies
and procedures in place?
Myself and a friend both mind children,
we wanted to do it together in my house -
can we mind 10 children between
us?
I'm starting childminding, do I need to
apply for "Change of Use" Planning Permission?
Parents
Why
choose Childminding?
Can I have a list of Childminders in my
area?
Does
Childminding Ireland inspect or vet Childminders?
How
many children can a Childminder mind?
Should
I pay my Childminder's PRSI and deduct income tax?
How
do I find a Childminder?
What
should I look for when choosing a Childminder?
Do
I have to pay my Childminder holiday pay?
How does a registered Childminder differ
from others?
Is the Childminding contract binding on
both parties?
Can a parent insist on the non-use of
a Microwave oven?
How do I join Childminding
Ireland?
Call us on 01 287 8466, or e-mail your details to info@childminding.ie
and we will send you out an application pack. Alternatively,
you can download the application
form by clicking here.
The application procedure is as follows (see "Join
Us" section for more information):
Will my household insurance policy
cover me for Childminding?
You should check with your provider.
In many cases, even if you are covered for minding children
in your home, the policy does not include cover for
outings, e.g. taking children to the park, school etc.
Members of Childminding Ireland can participate
in a group insurance scheme designed especially for
Childminders. For
information on Kidd Insurance Childminders Scheme click
here. Please note the prices listed have been discounted
in 2010. Insurance for a Registered Nanny is now €130,
a Register Childminder Option 1 is €180 and the
Registered Childminder Option 2 is €150.
To be a Registered member of
Childminding Ireland you must have Childminding
Insurance.
How many children can
I mind?
You can mind up to five unrelated children
under the age of six. You can mind no more than two
infants under the age of 15 months. You must notify
your local HSE if you mind four or more children. For
the Pre-School Regulations click here.
Does
a Childminder require any particular training?
At present there is no specific training required to
become a Childminder. Although to avail of the Childminder's
Development Grant a Quality Awareness Programme of training
is one of the criertia. Childminding Ireland
would recomend that you avail of relevant training in
childcare and First Aid. For further information on
relevant training courses in your area contat your local
County Childcare Committee.
Should
I be paying tax?
As
a childminder you are self employed and are responsible
for your own tax. Childminders who mind 3 or less children,
and whose income from Childminding is €15,000 per
year or less, are exempt from tax, but must make a declaration
to Revenue. Others should be registered with the Revenue
under the Self Assesment taxation system, this does
not mean that you will pay tax, that is dependent on
your profit, but it means you can contribute RSI under
Class S, and avail of certain State benefits such as
the Contributory Pension Scheme. Childminding Ireland
and the Revenue have compiled a list of allowable expenses
to offset against your income.
Should I be paid for holidays?
As a Childminder, you are self employed, and it is up
to you to negotiate a contract with Parents, ideally
before you start to mind child/ren, this contract should
not only include the rate of pay, but contracted hours,
levels of flexibility and whether or not you will get
paid for holidays.
The Childminding
Ireland Annual Survey of Members monitored
for the past five years shows that 42% of Irish
Childminders get 15 days paid holidays a year.
The Northern Ireland Childminder’s Association
recommends that when you are negotiating your contract,
you should seek 15 days paid holiday per year. If you
wish to take extra holidays, outside these days, you
will not be paid, but similarily, if the minded child
is on holiday, outside these negotiated days, you should
be paid in full as normal.
For
information on the full Survey results from the Childminding
Survey launched in 2010 click here.
I've heard about a grant for
Childminders, what is it, and how do I apply?
Childminder's Development Grants are capital
grants of up to €1,000 which are available to Childminders
to assist towards the cost of safety items, books, toys
or equipment to enable you to offer a safer, stimulating
environment for the children you mind. Grants are available
to insured Childminders who: have not already recieved
capital funding (above); who mind at least one child
full-time, or three part-time; and who attend a ten
hour, no-cost Quality Awareness Programme. Details and
application forms are available from your local Childcare
Co-ordinating Committee or your Childminding Advisory
Officer.
I am a Childminder do I need
to have policies and procedures in place?
Yes, under health and safety legislation you are required
to have a safety statement in place and best practice
requires that there should be a policy and procedure
for both the business and care aspects of your service.
If you are notified to your HSE, the inspection team
will expect to see policies in place. Download Childminding
Ireland's sample
policies and procedures for Childminders by clicking
here.
Myself
and a friend both mind children, we wanted to do it
together in my house - can we mind 10 children between
us?
No, not as a Childlminder. The regulations define a
Childminder as a single handed person minding children
in the Childminders own home.
You can mind 5 children under 6 years of age. You are
required to notify your local HSE on the fourth (unrelated),
minded child under the age of 6 years of age. The inspection
team will determine how many other children, (after
schoolers), you can mind depending on age an space ratios.
Is there particular information
availble in regards to After School Childcare?
Yes, Childminding Ireland
has a School Age Childcare Fact Sheet. For
a pdf version of this factsheet click here.
I'm
starting Childminding, do I need to apply for "Change
of Use" Planning Permission?
No,
Childminders are exempt from the "Change of Use"
Requirement, and have been since 2002.
In Statutory
Instrument 2001 - 600 Childminding is listed in
the Regulations, Part 2 under Exempted Development.
"Development consisting of the use of a house for
childminding shall be exempted development for the purposes
of the Act"
Childminding is defined as "Childminding means
the activity of minding no more than 6 children including
the children, if any, of the person minding in the house
of that person, for profit or gain."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Why
Choose Childminding?
Research shows children benefit from the small group
family setting, with continuity of care from one person
- often from infancy through to starting secondary school.
Like most families, the minded children vary in age
which promotes empathy rather than competition for attention.
A family home, with regular outings, provides children
with opportunity to experience the world in a real way.
They get to know their locality and interact there with
the wider community. They can develop lasting friendships
with the Childminding family and other minded children.
Parents benefit from flexibility and an individually
tailored childcare arrangement which will change over
time as the child grows. Childminding offers the opportunity
for close communication with the person who has sole
responsibility for the child during the Childminding
hours.
Can
I have a list of Childminders in my area?
No, our database of members is confidential. However,
we do offer a vacancy matching service that you can
avail of by contacting our office on 01 2878466.
Does
Childminding Ireland inspect or vet Childminders?
No, we are a voluntary organisation and have no remit
to inspect. Inspection in undertaken by the HSE where
Childminders are required to notify, i.e. they are minding
four or more unrelated children under the age of six.
How
many children should a Childminder mind?
A Childminder can mind up to 5 unrelated children under
the age of six. Notification to the HSE is obligatory
if four or more children are being minded.
Should
I pay my Childminder's PRSI and deduct income tax?
A Childminder who minds children in her/his own home
is self-employed and liable for their own tax / PRSI.
However, if the minder minds children in your home the
Childminder is deemed to be an employee and you must
pay all relevant tax and Social Insurance contributions.
How
do I find a Childminder?
Contact Childminding Ireland, on 01 287 8466,
to avail of the vacancy matching service and advise
you of Registered Childminders in your area, also contact
your local Childminding Advisory Officer.
You can also find Childminders through word of mouth.
Let colleagues, friends and family know you are looking
for a Childminder, ask at a parent and toddler group
etc, look for Childminders advertising their services
in local papers and notice boards, etc.
What
should I look for when choosing a Childminder?
Arrange to visit the Childminder in their own home,
ideally when there are children there so you can see
if the atmosphere is happy and busy. Ask to look over
the house and see the areas available to the children,
have a look at the toys, books and equipment to make
sure they are safe. Ask lots of questions, what experience
have they? Are they insured? Have they any training
in child development and first-aid? Why did you decide
to become a Childminder? What do they charge etc. You
should always ask for a character reference and follow
this up.
Do
I have to pay my Childminder holiday pay?
Childminding Ireland recommends that you pay
your Childminder for 52 weeks a year. In the case of
extended breaks, for example in the case of parents
who are teachers, it is usual for Childminders and parents
to work out an arrangement whereby a proportion of the
cost is paid to retain the place . These arrangements
should form part of the initial contract that is agreed
between Childminder and parent.
How does a registered Childminder
differ from others?
A Childminder who is registered with Childminding
Ireland will have clearance from their family doctor,
will have adequete insurance to enable them to mind
children in their own home. They are kept up to date
with best practice in childcare and have access to a
wide range of training and networking opportunities.
Is the Childminding contract
binding on both parties?
Yes, both legally and morally. Childminding Ireland
encourages its members to have Childminding contracts
in place, and to observe the terms of the contract particularly
the agreed notice period.
