Setting up and developing a childcare business

If you are interested in becoming a childminder, please:

1. read the following guidance from the Ofsted website: Pre-registration Childminder briefing
2. For more information and next steps please read How to become a registered childminder in Suffolk | Community Directory.

Useful websites:

• Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY): also known as National Childminding Association (NCMA)
• Foundation Years
• Ofsted

For other childminding queries or if you are already an Ofsted registered childminder in Suffolk and you would like advice or support please contact the Suffolk Family Information Service by emailing: suffolkfis@suffolk.gov.uk

For all other ways that we support existing childcare providers, please go to guidance for childcare providers page.

Contact the Suffolk Family Information Service if you:

• are considering starting up as a group childcare provider (nursery, pre-school, out-of-school-care) in your local area
• would like advice about how to become an Ofsted registered childcare provider in Suffolk

As a new childcare provider you will provide:

• high quality care in an inclusive learning environment which supports all children’s learning and development.
• where appropriate, funded early education places to children aged 2 to 5 years on behalf of Suffolk County Council

We can help you understand the different types of childcare provision that you could offer, for instance:

• a day nursery (offers full daycare provision for 0 to 5 year olds)
• a pre-school (offers sessional daycare for 2 to 5 year olds)
• out-of-school care (breakfast, after school or holiday club)

We can offer you advice and guidance with the following:

• childcare business management and governance
• childcare sufficiency and existing provision across the county
• information about childcare regulations
• setting up school based childcare
• marketing options for promoting and sustaining your childcare business
• safe recruitment of staff
• continuous professional development

For more information, please contact the Suffolk Family Information Service on 0345 60 800 33.

Further useful sources of information:

• self-employment guidance on GOV.UK
• running an Early Years setting on GOV.UK
• setting up a business advice on GOV.UK
• funding for charities, community organisations and social enterprises

• Early Years Alliance
• National Day Nurseries Association
• Pacey (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years) or contact them on 0845 880 0044

If you are already an Ofsted registered childcare provider in Suffolk and you would like advice on how to expand your childcare provision please phone the Suffolk Family Information Service on 0345 60 800 33 for help.

For all other ways that we support existing childcare providers, please go to guidance for childcare providers page.