How to Expand Your Childminding Business

Stage 1: Hiring Childminding Assistants

The most natural first step to expanding your business is to hire help. Bringing a childminding assistant on board allows you to take on more children, increase your revenue, and share the physical and mental workload of the day.

The New “Rule of Four” for Childminders

Previously, a childminder could only work with up to two other adults (a maximum of three people working together under one childminder registration).

However, as of November 1, 2024, the rules changed significantly. The DfE increased the number of people who can work together under a standard childminding registration. You can now work with up to three other childminders or assistants, meaning a maximum of four adults can work together at any one time.

This is a game-changer. It means you can build a small, robust team and significantly increase your daily capacity without having to change your overarching Ofsted registration type.

What Can Assistants Actually Do?

It is important to remember that assistants are not just an extra set of hands; they are heavily regulated.

• All assistants over the age of 16 must have an enhanced DBS check.

• They must hold an up-to-date paediatric first aid certificate if you ever intend to leave them alone with the children.

• Even with first aid training and explicit written consent from parents, an assistant can only be left in sole charge of the children for a maximum of two hours per day.

Stage 2: Mastering Your New Ratios

As you add staff, your capacity grows, but the mathematics of your setting will become much more complex.

Every adult you add to your team allows you to take on more children, but you are still bound by the strict Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. For example, a single adult can generally care for a maximum of six children under the age of eight. Of those six, a maximum of three can be young children (under five), and usually, only one can be under the age of one.

When you have three or four adults working together, managing who is assigned to which age group throughout the day—especially during school runs, nap times, and lunch breaks, requires meticulous planning. For a deep dive into exactly how these numbers stack up, bookmark our definitive guide: Childminder ratios explained (UK): What you’re allowed, what you’re not, and how to stay compliant.

Stage 3: The Big Leap to Childcare on Domestic Premises (CoDP)

Let’s say your business is booming. You have maxed out your team of four adults, your home is buzzing with children, and the demand in your local area is still growing. You want to hire a fifth staff member.

This is the exact moment your business model changes completely.

The Shift from 4 to 5 Adults

Prior to November 2024, the threshold for transitioning to a new registration type was four adults. This has now changed. Under the new regulations, the moment you have five or more people (childminders and assistants) working together to provide childcare in a domestic setting at the same time, you are no longer legally classified as a childminder. You must re-register with Ofsted as a provider of Childcare on Domestic Premises (CoDP).

Why Make the Switch to CoDP?

Childcare on Domestic Premises is, for all intents and purposes, a mini-nursery run out of a house.

While the transition requires a new Ofsted registration, planning permission (Change of Use) from your local council, and a totally different management mindset, the financial rewards can be substantial. You can care for a large volume of children without the crippling overheads of renting commercial high-street property.

If this sounds like the ultimate goal for your business, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our comprehensive course, Open a Nursery from Home (Childcare on Domestic Premises), walks you through the exact blueprint for making this transition safely and profitably.

Stage 4: Overhauling Your Policies and Safeguarding

Whether you are scaling up to a team of four under a childminding registration, or leaping up to five or more under CoDP, your paperwork must evolve to match the size of your operation.

When you were a solo childminder, you only had to worry about your own conduct. As an employer or manager, you are now responsible for the actions, training, and vetting of a team. Your local authority training is no longer enough. Your safeguarding compliance must become incredibly robust. You need strict protocols for staff whistleblowing, mobile phone usage on the premises, and allegations made against staff members.

Furthermore, parents (and Ofsted inspectors) will expect to see a highly professional operation. You will need a comprehensive operational manual. Don’t waste weeks writing these from scratch; you can utilise our approved nursery policy and procedures templates to ensure your legal framework is watertight from day one of your expansion.

Stage 5: Budgeting for Expansion

Growth costs money. Before you advertise a job vacancy or apply for a new Ofsted registration, you must forecast your financials.

Adding staff means you are now running a payroll, contributing to pensions, and paying employer National Insurance. Your public liability insurance premiums will increase, as will your utility bills, food costs, and the wear and tear on your property.

Take the time to thoroughly review your childminder start-up costs and profitability projections. Ensure that the extra revenue generated by the additional children significantly outweighs the cost of the additional staff members.

Conclusion

Expanding a childminding business is an incredibly exciting journey. The recent legislative changes have removed many of the old roadblocks, giving ambitious practitioners the freedom to build substantial businesses right from their living rooms.

Whether you choose to max out your capacity as a childminder with three assistants, or cross the threshold into the lucrative world of Childcare on Domestic Premises, the secret to scaling successfully is preparation. Master your ratios, upgrade your policies, and keep the quality of the children’s early years education at the very heart of your growth strategy.