GovWire

You may be able to get money to help with the cost of setting up as a childminder.

Childminder start-up grants provide eligible new childminders with a one-off payment. You do not have to pay the grant back.

Eligibility

You can apply for a start-up grant if you registered as a new childminder after15 March 2023. You must:

• work as a childminder in England
• have completed your Ofsted or childminder agency registration before applying

This grant is for new childminders only. If you registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency before 15 March 2023 and you are still registered, youre not eligible.

Nannies and nurseries are not eligible for a grant.

If you are not registered as a childminder, you can find out more about becoming a childminder.

Registered with Ofsted

If youre registered with Ofsted, you must be listed as a childminder on either the:

• early years register
• general childcare register

Registered with a childminder agency

If youre registered with a childminder agency, you must:

• hold a current registration to get your first payment
• have started childminding your first child within 6 months of your registration date to get your second payment

What youll get

Youll get different amounts of money depending onwhich register you joined. The amounts reflect the different costs of registering.

If you registered with:

• Ofsted, youll get 600
• a childminder agency, youll get 2 payments totalling 1,200:
  • 600 when you register
  • 600 when you start childminding your first child

You can only receive one childminder start-up grant.

When to apply

If you registered on or after 1 January 2024, you must apply within two months of your registration date.

If you registered between 15 March and 31 December 2023, you should have applied by 29 February 2024.

How to apply

Youll need:

• your contact details
• your National Insurance number
• details of your registered work address (if different from your home address)
• proof of your registered work address, such as a utility bill or a letter from HMRC
• to know your local authority area
• your childminder registration number and registration date
• details of the bank account you want the grant paying into
• a copy of a bank statement showing your current address

Most childminders will find out if they can receive a grantwithin 2 weeks of submitting their application.

Help with your application

If you need help with your application, contact the Ecorys support team at childmindergrants@ecorys.com.